More than 22,000 Ukrainian refugees are currently taking refuge in temporary shelters in Russia, Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman Alexander Drobyshenko told Interfax on Sunday.
Explaining that 817 refugees had crossed into Russia in the past 24 hours, Drobyshenko said five additional shelters had been constructed in that time to accommodate the influx.
He added that 22,037 refugees are currently residing in 326 temporary shelters.
A state of emergency was declared in six southern Russian territories in Thursday, as refugees continued to arrive en masse.
Refugee statistics has been a point of contention since the political crisis in eastern Ukraine turned into an armed conflict in March. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev lashed out at the U.S. State Department last week for suggesting that the refugee situation may not be as dire as is portrayed by the Russian media.
"There are a huge number of refugees. Tens of thousands. People are fleeing from war. American propaganda claims they were going 'on holiday to their grandmothers.' [Such] cynicism knows no limits," Medvedev wrote on his Facebook page last Wednesday.
See also:
Ukrainian Refugees Taking Shelter in Moscow Region 'Petrified With Grief'
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.