The Smolensk people have been asked to provide assistance to the refugees from Ukraine

The issues of helping citizens who have left the south-east of Ukraine because of the fighting were discussed at a working meeting chaired by the Deputy Governor - Head of the Administrative Department of Smolensk region Administration Lev Platonov. The heads of executive authorities of the region took part in the meeting.

The subjects of the Russian Federation continue to provide assistance to the refugees from Ukraine. According to the Federal Migration Service, in 2014 more than 400,000 Ukrainian citizens have arrived and are staying on the territory of the Russian Federation. The UN counted 110,000 Ukrainian refugees in Russia, whose number in the bordering and other regions has increased dramatically since June because of the worsening situation in the south-east of Ukraine. About 10-15 thousands of people cross the Russian border every day.

Several hundreds of people have arrived in Smolensk region because of the situation in the south-east of Ukraine. Now they are facing the problem of getting a refugee status. Many of the people, especially those who do not have relatives in Russia, should be the first to be taken care of. In this regard, Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy set the task to open in Smolensk region a bank account for transferring charity funds to provide financial support to the people who have left the south-east of Ukraine because of the fighting.

Those residents of Smolensk, who cannot stay indifferent and are ready to provide possible assistance, can transfer their donations to the centralized account of Smolensk regional Organization of Veterans (Pensioners) of War, Labor, Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies.