UN: third of Ukrainian refugees have returned

Geneva, Jun 9 (EFE).- A third of the refugees who fled Ukraine amid the Russian invasion have returned to Ukraine, the United Nations said on Thursday.

Some 7.3 million people have fled since February 24, when Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine.

As of June 7, some 2.3 million had returned to Ukraine, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

“Some cross to Ukraine to assess the situation, check property, visit family members or help them to leave. Others are going to Western Ukraine and areas around Kyiv and Chernihiv intending to stay,” UNHCR said.

“Many who have moved back have found their homes severely damaged and struggled to find jobs — as the war continues to have a devastating economic impact — and had no choice but to leave again,” it added.

Out of the 4.8 million registered Ukrainian refugees in Europe, 3.2 million have applied for Temporary Protection, an EU initiative to grant temporary residency for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. EFE

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