60,000 and counting Russia scrambles to accommodate thousands as Donbas evacuations continue

On Friday, February 18, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” announced that increased tensions in eastern Ukraine necessitated mass evacuations. Over the next three days, more than 60,000 people were relocated to Russia, according to official reports. In total, 43 Russian regions have agreed to take in evacuees. President Vladimir Putin has also ordered the Russian government to pay 10,000 rubles ($130) to each “refugee.” Be that as it may, confusion reigned at Russia’s reception centers over the weekend, as local authorities scrambled to accommodate the sudden influx of people. Several Russian regions have even declared a state of emergency. So far, evacuees are being put up in schools, hotels, summer camp facilities, and even makeshift tent camps. Meduza shares snapshots from the evacuation.

Igor Ivanko / Kommersant

Relocated people from eastern Ukraine outside the Department of Social Protection in Taganrog. February 21, 2022.

Denis Kaminev / TV Rain

A train carrying evacuees from the “Donetsk People’s Republic” at a train station in Voronezh. February 20, 2022.

Roman Demyanenko / TASS / Scanpix / LETA

Relocated people from the Donbas at a reception center at the Akhtuba Hotel in the town of Volzhsky (Volgograd region). February 20, 2022.

Dmitry Rogulin / TASS / Scanpix / LETA

Evacuees from the “Luhansk People’s Republic” at a summer camp facility in Voronezh. February 20, 2022.

Roman Demyanenko / TASS / Scanpix / LETA

A boy from the “Donetsk People’s Republic” in a temporary accommodation center set up at a summer camp facility in Voronezh. February 20, 2022.

Roman Demyanenko / TASS / Scanpix / LETA

Relocated persons from the Donbas at a summer camp facility in Voronezh. February 20, 2022.

Roman Demyanenko / TASS / Scanpix / LETA

Buses at a camp for evacuees near the Matveyev Kurgan border checkpoint in Russia’s Rostov region

Erik Romanenko / TASS / Scanpix / LETA

One of the tents set up by Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry at a makeshift camp for evacuees from the Donbas

Erik Romanenko / TASS / Scanpix / LETA

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Mass evacuations raise fears of a major event looming in eastern Ukraine

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60,000 and counting Russia scrambles to accommodate thousands as Donbas evacuations continue

Mass evacuations raise fears of a major event looming in eastern Ukraine

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