On Thursday, 24 February, the Russian military entered Ukraine as part of a full-scale invasion.
The hostile action has received widespread condemnation by the international community – a recent example of this was the resolution passed in the UN on this very topic which received support from 141 separate countries.
The incursion has seen Russian aircraft, sea vessels, tanks and infantry enter the largely peaceful ex-Soviet bloc country with the official aim to toppling the current pro-European Union (EU) government, demilitarising the country, and ensuring that Ukraine does not take further steps to entrench itself with the West, such as by joining the EU or becoming a member of the NATO defensive alliance.
The human impact of conflict
While most citizens of Ukraine remain in their homes or bomb shelters, over 1 million have opted to head for safety. They have packed what little they can carry in a vehicle and driven (or in some cases) walked to a border. With Russia in the east, and its alleged puppet state Belarus in the north, for many the choices have been few. The direction of escape for most has been east towards Poland.
The BBC reports that Poland has taken the largest number of Ukrainians of any neighboring country by a clear margin, with Hungary being second. Refugees may continue to move through Poland and into other countries but anecdotally, news reports suggest that many are choosing to stay with family or other connections they have in Poland. The Ukrainian community within Poland is significant.
Freedom of movement
How is this mass immigration being managed and facilitated by the states in the local region?
Plans recently approved by the EU will allow Ukrainian refugees to live and work in any EU member state for the next three years. The legislation, known as the Temporary Protection Directive, was passed by the EU parliament on Thursday 3 March 2022. It enacts a framework of rules that were originally created over 20 years ago in aftermath of the Balkan wars.
The wording of the legislation provides the option for this status to be extended for a further two years if this is deemed necessary – for example if the conflict is still ongoing within Europe.
This is a significant development because the standard UN refugee convention does provide refugees with the right to travel to, and claim asylum within any UN member state, however, this is subject to a length bureaucratic process that can see the refugee living in ‘limbo’ for many years, unable to build a life because their application could be denied at any time, resulting in their deportation.
In contrast, the Ukrainian people who find themselves in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other bordering countries know that they have a clear period of time in which they can seek work and begin to provide some stability for their families.
Humanitarian aid
The outpouring of support for Ukraine has not been limited to the actions of its member states or governments. Temporary refugee welcome centres in Poland have found themselves overwhelmed by donations of food, medical supplies, and other essential items that refugees will need after their long journey to the border.
Many arrivals have been forced to walk on foot for multiple days in an anxious state before finally queuing up behind hundreds of their fellow citizens and eventually walking over the border.
The future
With so many unknowns, it is impossible to foresee an end to the current conflict, although both sides are apparently committed to finding a diplomatic solution eventually. In the meantime, we can only hope that the combination of state and local support to refugees will continue to help support the displaced population attempting to escape this nightmare scenario.
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