Almost 30,000 people crossed from Ukraine to Poland yesterday, half declaring as refugees

Almost 30,000 people crossed from Ukraine into Poland yesterday following Russia’s invasion, far higher than normal border traffic. Around half of them have made declarations that they are fleeing war and will be treated as refugees, say the Polish authorities.

Many have been met by friends and relatives from Poland’s Ukrainian community – the country’s largest immigrant group, over one million strong – thousands of whom have travelled to the border to collect their compatriots.

Meanwhile, Poland has also been helping facilitate the repatriation of third-country nationals – including Bangladeshis and Filipinos – from Ukraine.

Figures released by the Polish border guard this morning show that 29,000 people crossed from Ukraine yesterday. That is a “noticeable increase in border traffic,” said Stanisław Żaryn, spokesman for Poland’s security services, quoted by the Polish Press Agency (PAP)/

“About half of them have so far made verbal statements that they are fleeing war; these are people who must be considered as war refugees…[and] will be accepted in Poland in accordance with procedures,” added Żaryn. For comparison, Poland received 7,700 applications for asylum in the whole of last year.

The Polish authorities have for weeks been preparing to receive up to one million refugees from Ukraine in the event of war. Yesterday, following Russia’s invasion, they opened eight reception points at the border to provide support to people fleeing the conflict.

The passage of people across the border has been facilitated by the government lifting quarantine and vaccination certificate requirements, border guard spokesman Piotr Zakielarz told PAP. However, Żaryn noted that, because the border is the eastern frontier of NATO and the EU, security controls must remain tight.

Arrivals are offered coffee and the option of being taken to a nearby reception point or to other parts of Poland by bus. Many are also met on arrival by fellow Ukrainians who have travelled in their thousands from around Poland to the border to collect friends and relatives, reports PAP.

A number of trains – each carrying hundreds of people – have also been arriving from Ukraine at Przemyśl, a Polish town near the border. Many have then travelled on to other parts of Poland, but some have remained in the town, reports local news service Nasze Miasto.

“The sight of sad, terrified people – mostly women with children and the elderly – is indescribable,” said local councillor Marcin Kowalski. Arrivals have been provided with food, drinks, medical care and accommodation by a combination of local authorities, emergency services and the Polish Red Cross.

“I come from Kyiv. I heard the explosions next to my building… and I quickly packed, I took almost everything with me,” Olha, a 36-year-old teacher, told AFP. “I feel safe here but I cannot really help my relatives and friends. Many of them are in danger and cannot leave as quickly.”

Meanwhile, Polish authorities and Bangladeshi diplomats in Warsaw have been helping Bangladeshi nations leave Ukraine, reports the UNB news service. Thirty-seven Filipinos are also being transported from Ukraine to Poland for repatriation, according to CDN.

Main image credit: Patryk Ogorzalek / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Daniel Tilles

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.