Kiev, Europe Brief News – Russia’s war on Ukraine is now in its seventh day, and Moscow escalated its attacks on cities and civilians across the country.
The overall death toll from the seven-day war is not clear. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has released the number of troops lost.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said more than 2,000 civilians have died, though it was impossible to verify that claim.
The UN human rights office has tallied 136 civilian deaths, while acknowledging the actual toll is surely far higher.
Roughly 874,000 people have fled Ukraine, and the UN refugee agency warned the number could cross the 1 million mark soon. Countless others have taken shelter underground.
Nearly 875,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia’s attack less than a week ago, according to the UN.
The UN has also warned that 4 million could leave the country in the coming weeks and months.
More than half (454,000) have fled to Poland, while 116,000 have gone to Hungary, 67,000 to Slovakia, 45,000 to Romania and 79,000 to non-EU Moldova, Europe’s poorest country.
In contrast to previous migration waves, member states have shown a rapid political will to host the war refugees. Even if the massive and abrupt influx poses a logistic challenge for governments.
Poland has opened its borders to all Ukrainians and dropped its requirement to show a negative COVID-19 test. Germany and Austria are offering free-of-charge train journeys for those seeking to reach their countries.
Meanwhile, Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for home affairs, says the executive is ready to trigger an old, obscure EU directive that could provide the bloc with a fast way to manage the influx of refugees.
