Timeline of Ukrainian Refugees Reaching EU Countries Amid Russian Invasion March 22

On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin formally recognized the independence of two pro-Russia regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, in Ukraine, which sparked reactions and criticism not only in Ukraine but throughout the whole of Europe.

In the early hours of the following Thursday, February 24, in a televised address to the nation, President Putin announced what he called “a special military operation in Ukraine.” Minutes after his speech, the first blasting took place throughout Ukraine.

Following the attacks, at first, a few hundred Ukrainians headed towards the borders to seek safe shelter in the neighbouring countries. The number has increased continuously, and by now, nearly four million Ukrainians have left the country.

The following article gives a clear timeline, in reversed chronological order, of the number of Ukrainian refugees fleeing towards the European Union countries, as well as the measures taken by the latter, to help these refugees

*This timeline is being updated continuously with the most recent updates regarding the influx of Ukrainian refugees towards the EU.

Number of Ukrainian refugees in the neighbouring countries as of March 23 :

March 23

A total of 3,626,546 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

A total of 3,674,952 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Almost 200,000 Ukrainian refugees have left Poland to reach other EU countries by train. The Polish Railway Lines permit Ukrainian refugees to use trains free of charge.

Norway is prepared to receive over 100,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. The country’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere has noted that arrivals from Ukraine reach 100,000 then the nation will house the refugees in sports arenas, warehouses, or even tents.

March 21

A total of 3,558,442 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Data from the United Nations show that more than three million people have left Ukraine since February 24, when Russia started invading the country. 1.8 million of which refugees have registered in Poland, 344,454 in Moldova, 272,943 in Hungary, 220,977 in Slovakia, and 210,019 in Romania. Belarus has the lowest number of refugees registered up until now – about 1,816 of them.

March 20

A total of 3,493,765 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

“Among the responsibilities of those who wage war, everywhere in the world, is the suffering inflicted on civilians who are forced to flee their homes. The war in Ukraine is so devastating that 10 million have fled — either displaced inside the country or as refugees abroad,” – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Finnish Immigration Services have announced that 2,395 Ukrainian refugees have sought international protection in Finland, and 648 have applied for asylum up until now.

March 19

A total of 3,426,372 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Budapest police have announced that 1,770 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, including 548 children, arrived in Budapest by train on Saturday, March 19. Most of the refugees sought information and continued their journey or settled with relatives in Hungary. The authorities and charity organizations offered shelter to 89 people, including 55 children.

March 18

A total of 3,349,615 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Aside from shelter and jobs, the EU countries are also supporting Ukrainian students through mental health assistance, the possibility to continue studies at their universities, reduced tuition fees, etc.

March 17

A total of 3,266,960 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Hungary will financially support employers who give jobs to refugees. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to give employers 60,000 HUF or €160 per month for each Ukrainian refugee they employ and an additional 12,000 HUF or €32 for each of their children.

March 16

A total of 3,172,746 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

More than 432,000 refugees had arrived in Hungary by noon on Wednesday, March 16. The country expects the number of refugees from Ukraine to increase to 900,000.

The number of Ukrainian refugees who have registered in Germany is nearly 147,000 so far. According to the German Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, Ukrainian refugees are receiving the needed assistance as there is a great effort by both the federal government, the state, and local government to help in this regard.

March 15

A total of 3,068,073 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

“Today, we have passed another terrible milestone: three million refugees have fled from Ukraine. The war has to stop. Now!” – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Germany has facilitated the “Jewish immigration” procedures from Ukrainian Jews fleeing the war by enabling the same to apply for this type of residence from within Germany.

Slovakia now permits Ukrainian citizens and their families to electronically apply for temporary protection in the country through the online services of the Ministry of Interior. The online portal is now available in Ukrainian, Slovak and English.

March 14

A total of 2,956,814 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Norway has made it possible for Ukrainian refugees in the country to register in several places throughout the country in order to reduce the pressure on the national arrival centre in Råde and make it easier for the Ukrainians who are already staying elsewhere than in Eastern Norway to register,

Germany will take in 2,500 Ukrainian refugees who are currently in Moldova in the following days. Data show that more than 270,300 Ukrainian refugees are now in Moldova, and nearly 123,000 refugees have been registered in Germany so far.

March 13

A total of 2,842,697 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

March 12

A total of 2,685,521 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

March 11

A total of 2,569,699 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

The number of refugees from Ukraine — tragically — has reached today 2.5 million.

We also estimate that about two million people are displaced inside Ukraine.

Millions forced to leave their homes by this senseless war.

— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) March 11, 2022

France has revealed the procedures that Ukrainian refugees should follow in order to remain in this country. The authorities in this country have also noted that they are preparing to welcome 100,000 people from Ukraine.

Hungary has taken in 201,706 refugees in the last two weeks. So far, some 115,000 people have received help at the aid points set up at the border.

March 10

A total of 2,450,443 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Around 4,300 Ukrainian nationals have entered Latvia from Poland so far. The authorities in Latvia have revealed that about 1,1000 people have been helped, 631 have been accommodated in tourism facilities, and another 80 people who did not have the right travel documents were also assisted.

March 9

A total of 2,316,501 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

178,894 Ukrainian refugees have reached Hungary since the beginning of the war, the government spokeswoman of Hungary, Alexandra Szentkirályi, has announced. To date, the Hungarian disaster management authority has provided housing for 3,252 people, including 1,780 children from Ukraine.

March 8

A total of 2,146,533 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

“Today, the outflow of refugees from Ukraine reaches two million people. Two million,” – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Switzerland has said it is ready to take in refugees from Ukraine to the country, pointing out that there are already thousands of accommodation facilities in federal asylum centres available for Ukrainian refugees. Data show that since the start of Ukraine’s invasion by Russia, around 700 displaced persons from Ukraine have registered to the federal asylum centres.

The Hungarian police force has confirmed that a total of 3,247 Ukrainian refugees, including 770 children, have arrived in Budapest by train on Sunday. The majority of them continued their way individually or went to stay with their relatives. Authorities transported 122 people, including 23 children, to shelters in and around Budapest.

March 7

A total of 1,962,444 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Data by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees show that 1.5 million Ukrainians have left their country, looking for a safe haven in other European countries, mainly to those that Ukraine shares borders with, like Poland, Romania, Hungary, etc.

March 6

A total of 1,755,972 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

“More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighbouring countries in 10 days — the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II,” – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The German Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, has announced that Germany will accept refugees from Ukraine regardless of their nationality, pointing out that nationality will not have a role in this country’s decision to welcome refugees from Ukraine.

March 5

A total of 1,549,632 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

March 4

A total of 1,352,112 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

“…the number of refugees from Ukraine in neighbouring countries reaches 1.2 million…” – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

106.000 Ukrainian refugees have reached Poland on this day, which is the highest number of migrants reaching the EU member from Ukraine within one day since the invasion started. The Polish border with Ukraine has been crossed by nearly 800,000 people escaping from the bombs that fall on their homeland, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Paweł Szefernaker, has announced.

March 3

A total of 1,180,113 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Hungary has taken in about 104,000 refugees from Ukraine since February 24, when the Russian forces started invading Ukraine. The United Nations, however, is estimating that about 250,000 refugees from this country will migrate to Hungary before the war ends.

Frontex will send over 150 officers to Romania’s border with 45 patrol cars and other equipment in order to help with the managing of borders amid an influx of Ukrainian refugees. Frontex officers will help the Romanian authorities in processing the number of refugees crossing the border from Ukraine and at the same time carrying out other work related to border control.

France has opened its doors for Ukrainian refugees. Ukrainians who do not hold a biometric passport and wish to travel to France are advised to go to one of the French consular offices in Ukraine’s neighbouring countries such as Romania, Poland, and Hungary so their situation can be examined.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) of the Netherlands has decided to pause decisions on Ukrainian asylum seekers, which means that an asylum application won’t be needed for Ukrainians to stay legally in the country, though they can still apply for international protection if they choose to.

March 2

A total of 1,013,787 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

“As the number of refugees from Ukraine who have fled to neighbouring countries reaches 875,000, I head to Romania on a visit that will take me also to Moldova and Poland in the next few days — to assess the situation of refugees and assure host governments of UNHCR’s support,” – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

More than 474,500 persons have entered Poland since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Polish authorities have revealed for SchengenVisaInfo.com. On March 1 alone, around 98,000 refugees entered the territory of Poland, while on March 2, by 7 a.m., 21,500 persons entered Poland from Ukraine.

The European Commission has suggested activating the Temporary Protection Directive to provide more assistance to people fleeing during the war in Ukraine. The directive is activated, Ukrainian refugees will be granted residence permits and access to education and the labour market in the EU.

“In just seven days, we have witnessed the exodus of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries. For many millions more, inside Ukraine, it’s time for guns to fall silent so that life-saving humanitarian assistance can be provided,” – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

According to the Slovak Ministry of Interior, 46,618 Ukrainian refugees have reached Slovakia’s territory since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Budapest police (BRFK) have revealed that a total of 4,002 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, 308 of them children, arrived in Budapest by train on Monday. The authorities have organized accommodation for 291 people, including 66 children.

March 1

A total of 840,296 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine (from February 24 to February 28 2022), 53,136 people have come to the territory of the Slovak Republic across the eastern border. Of this number, 46,618 people have the citizenship of Ukraine, which represents almost 90 per cent. There were 1,774 passengers from EU countries. The number of third-country nationals during the period was 4,774.

February 28

A total of 672,139 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

“The number of people who have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries has reached 677,000,” – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Greece has made 50,000 jobs in the tourism sector available for Ukrainian refugees and Greek expatriates, which jobs have not been covered by the domestic labour market.

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has shown its readiness to assist the Member States to deal with the situation at their borders regarding the influx of refugees from Ukraine due to the latter’s invasion by the Russian military.

According to Slovakia’s Ministry of the Interior, from Thursday, February 24, 2022, from 6 a.m. to Sunday, February 27, 2022, until 6 a.m., 25,935 people entered the territory of the Slovak Republic from Ukraine. Most people crossed the border crossings in Vyšné Nemecky (13,645) and Ubli (10,715).

February 27

A total of 509,665 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

The number of refugees from Ukraine who have crossed to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and other countries is escalating and is now 368,000.

The governments and people of those countries are welcoming refugees. It is now urgent to share this responsibility in concrete ways.

— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) February 27, 2022

From Thursday, February 24, 2022, from 6 a.m. to Sunday, February 27, 2022, until 6 a.m., 25,935 people entered the territory of the Slovak Republic from Ukraine. Most people crossed the border crossings in Vyšné Nemecky (13,645) and Ubli (10,715). 44 people applied for asylum – 1 citizen of Russia and 43 citizens of Ukraine (including children).

February 26

A total of 341,301 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

February 25

A total of 192,982 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their country in less than 48 hours — a majority to Poland and Moldova — and many more are moving towards its borders.

Heartfelt thanks to the governments and people of countries keeping their borders open and welcoming refugees.

— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) February 25, 2022

Data show that up until now, about 26,000 refugees have entered Moldova and Romania from Ukraine, and a few of them have already applied for protection.15,800 of these arrivals have entered the borders of Moldova, and about 10,000 refugees are estimated to have entered Romania.

Iceland has removed Ukraine from its safe country of origin list, which means that applications for international protection from Ukrainians will be processed with priority, in contrast to applications from safe countries. The latter are countries that are not dealing with any kind of risks.

Slovakia’s Ministry of the Interior has decided to permit all Ukrainians to flee the war to enter the country, including those who do not have a valid travel document (biometric passport). The same has also highlighted that so far, the police is ensuring normal functioning at the border crossing with Ukraine and that there are no long lines or waiting times at these borders.

>> Slovakia Permits Entry for Ukrainians Fleeing the War Without Valid Travel Documents

From February 23, 2022, from 4 p.m. to February 25, 2022, by noon, approximately 7,490 Ukrainian nationals crossed the Slovak-Ukrainian border. Most arrivals have valid documents. The usual number of entries to the Slovak Republic from Ukraine before the conflict averaged 1,400 people per day.

So far, 14 citizens of Ukraine have applied for international legal protection in the Slovak Republic on Friday, February 25, 2022, at 2 p.m.

The Czech Republic has lifted all COVID-19 entry restrictions for arrivals from Ukraine in order to make entry procedures easier and quicker for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of their country.

Hungarian authorities have announced that at least 400-500 people from Ukraine with bags, suitcases and other luggage arrived in Hungary at Beregsurány, the majority of them in groups of two or three. Many of them waited close to the border on the Hungarian side to be picked up by family or friends.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has offered its help to the EU countries in the reception of asylum seekers. It has also highlighted that it is ready to offer such assistance as over the past weeks and months the same has been working together with the Commission, other EU Agencies, as well as the authorities in the Member States, in order to be prepared for any scenario whereby armed conflict in Ukraine could lead to a sudden increase in individuals seeking international protection in the EU/

February 24

A total of 84,681 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have entered Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Belarus, since February 24 and up until this date.

Germany has shown its readiness to support the Polish authorities in case there is a large-scale movement of refugees from Ukraine to Poland. Germany has also said it would help all of Ukraine’s neighbouring countries to take in the refugees fleeing the war.

In the early morning of Thursday, at 5:00 a.m., the border of Ukraine in the area with Russia and Belarus was attacked by the Russian military. The start of the invasion took place immediately after a speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he said that he was launching a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Airstrikes targeted Kyiv on the same day.