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U.N.: Over 150,000 Ukrainians have crossed border into neighboring countries

By Adam Schrader   |   Feb. 26, 2022 at 2:19 PM
European Union leaders attend a summit at the Chateau de Versailles near Paris on March 11, 2022. Photo by the European Union/ UPI EU leaders are trying to find ways to address the fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that has affected the bloc's economy and defense needs. Photo by the European Union/ UPI Ukrainian security personnel inspect a Russian shell that destroyed a residential building in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, on March 9, 2022. Photo by Ukrainian State Emergency Service/ UPI Rescuers carry a civilian killed during shelling by Russian forces in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. Photo by Ukrainian State Emergency Service/ UPI An unexploded Russian shell is shown in the middle of a road in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Photo by Ukrainian State Emergency Service/ UPI People bid goodbye to each other with a hug in Irpin, Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo by Ukrainian State Emergency Service/UPI Ukrainians and participants attend a march to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Tokyo on March 5. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI Ukrainians and participants attend a march to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Tokyo on March 5. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI A woman wears traditional Ukrainian dress while attending a march to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Tokyo on March 5. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI Volunteers make a masking net at a help center in Lviv in western Ukraine, on March 2. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/UPI Ukrainians prepare Molotov cocktails outside their homes in Lviv on March 2. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/UPI Ukrainians prepare Molotov cocktails outside their homes in Lviv on March 2. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/UPI Lviv, Ukraine, is currently far from the front lines of the Russian invasion. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/UPI Ukrainians prepare Molotov cocktails outside their homes in Lviv on March 2. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/UPI Demonstrators hold signs and flags during a protest February 26 in Tel Aviv, Israel, in support of Ukraine after the Russian invasion and massive military operation. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI Demonstrators hold the Israeli and Ukranian flags during a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, on February 26, 2022. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI Protesters hold signs as they show support at a Stand With Ukraine Rally in Times Square in New York City on February 26. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Protesters hold the flags of Ukraine and the United States as they show support at a Stand With Ukraine Rally in Times Square in New York City on February 26. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Ukrainians rest in the Kyiv subway, using it as a bomb shelter on , February 24 as Russian forces advanced on the capital city. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/ UPI Ukrainians take shelter from attack in the Kyiv subway. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/ UPI Ukrainians carry their dog near the Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station in Kyiv. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/ UPI Ukrainians rest in the Kyiv train station.President Volodymyr Zelensky said civilians were under attack. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/ UPI Ukarainians line up at a bank Kyiv. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/ UPI Police and security personnel inspect the remains of a shell on a street in Kyiv. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/ UPI Police and security personnel inspect the remains of a military weapon on a street in Kyiv. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/ UPI U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris talks to members of the media about the conflict at the White House. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI A protester shows support for Ukraine at a rally outside the Russian Embassy in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Protesters show support for Ukraine as they hold a rally outside the Russian Embassy in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI A rally in New York was among many around the world showing support for Ukraine as Russia invaded. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Protesters show support for Ukraine as they hold a rally outside the Russian Embassy in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Protesters show support for Ukraine as they hold a rally outside the Russian Embassy in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Protestors demonstrate outside the Russian Embassy in Washington against the invasion of Ukraine. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI A protester is placed in a police van by U.S. Secret Service officers after being arrested outside the Russian Embassy in D.C. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI Red graffiti spells out "Murder" on the ground outside of the Russian Embassy. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI U.S. President Joe Biden speaks from the White House, calling Russia's attack on the Ukraine "unprovoked and unjustified" and announced new sanctions against Russia. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as Biden addresses the nation on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 830 points to start the day, but recovered by market close. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Traffic streams out of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday morning, as Russian troops entered the country. Zelensky addressed the nation to announce the imposition of martial law. Photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield (R) rests her hand on Ukraine Ambassador to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya after a Security Council meeting on the Russia-Ukraine conflict in New York. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI A UN Security Council meeting on the Russia and Eastern Ukraine conflict takes place in the evening at United Nations Headquarters. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Feb. 26 (UPI) -- More than 150,000 refugees have crossed from Ukraine into neighboring countries, the United Nations said Saturday.

Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said in a statement that about 75,000 of the refugees have fled into Poland alone.

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Poland, which has strong ties to Ukraine, is allowing refugees who don't have identification into the country and shortening its processing times, according to U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power.

"Poland's ties to Ukraine are strong with a Ukrainian community of over 1 million," Power said while calling Polish efforts "beyond generous."

Many of the refugees are also fleeing to Hungary, Moldova and Romania, Grandi said.

"Displacement in Ukraine is also growing but the military situation makes it difficult to estimate numbers and provide aid," he said.

Moldova, which borders Ukraine to the south, has been an evacuation point for Ukrainian refugees fleeing cities such as the port city of Odessa, where Russian troops landed at the start of the invasion.

President Maia Sandu of Moldova said in a statement that Moldovans have "opened their hearts and homes to the people of Ukraine who need help."

Sandu shared images Thursday of tents the country set up near the villages of Palanca and Ocnița to serve as "temporary placement centers."

"Our borders are open for Ukranian citizens who need safe transit or stay," she said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited the border his country shares with Ukraine on Saturday and said the country will support all sanctions against Russia, according to Zoltan Kovacs, the Hungarian secretary of state.

Orbán said "humane, decent and well-prepared" officers at the border will make sure all refugees are cared for, according to Kovacs.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, whose country also borders Ukraine, said in a statement Friday that the country "will continue to give all our support to Ukraine, including humanitarian assistance."

"The latest developments seriously affect European, Euro-Atlantic and global security, and Russia holds full responsibility for this situation and must be held accountable for these acts of extraordinary gravity," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Friday that Russian troops had targeted orphanages and schools while moving toward Kyiv.

"What is this war against Ukrainian children in a kindergarten? Who are they? Are they neo-Nazis from kindergarten as well? Or were they NATO soldiers that threatened Russia?" Zelensky said in an address. "Killed and injured children are the sentence to this invasion."