Central European countries prepare to receive wave of Ukrainian refugees

Central European countries were bracing on Thursday for the arrival of refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Poland setting up reception points on its border and Hungary and Slovakia planning to send troops to manage the likely influx.

Countries on the eastern flank of the European Union were once part of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact and are now members of NATO. Among them, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania share land borders with Ukraine.

Russia on Thursday launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea, the largest state-on-state attack in Europe since World War II. The incursion confirmed the worst fears of the West and highlights the scenario of an avalanche of refugees from Ukraine, a nation of 44 million people.

Poland asked for the “fiercest possible penalties” against Russia and the Czech foreign minister called the invasion a “barbaric act of aggression”.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has forged good ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, also condemned Moscow’s actions. He said that Hungary would prepare humanitarian aid for Ukraine and was ready to receive refugees.

Ukrainians began to arrive in Poland. Dozens of people arrived at the normally quiet Medyka crossing on Thursday, some with luggage and accompanied by children.

-Hospitals await-

Polish hospitals were preparing beds for wounded Ukrainians, the Health Ministry said, and the Army raised the readiness level of some units.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that all persons entering the territory of Poland have access to medical care, including hospitalization.”, the ministry said.

Poland said it would set up reception points for refugees at its borders, according to the PAP news agency, which quoted Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Pawel Szefernaker.

Small groups of people were also traveling to Hungary on Thursday via the Beregsurany crossing, some coming from as far away as Kiev, a Reuters witness said. Some arrived by car, but many pedestrians were also dragging their bags.

Slovakia said it was ready to help the refugees. “We can predict with almost certainty that Russian aggression will expel many Ukrainian women and men from their country”, Prime Minister Eduard Heger said.

Slovakia will send up to 1,500 troops to its border with Ukraine, where additional crossings will be established, Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said. Hungary has also said it will deploy troops to its border to help the refugees through.

A Polish government spokesman said that Polish diplomatic missions in Ukraine would remain open.The most time possible”, but the Foreign Ministry urged all Polish citizens to leave the country.

Hungary also said its embassy in Kiev remained open. The Czech Republic closed its diplomatic mission, although its consulate in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv remained open.

Germany offered humanitarian aid to countries bordering Ukraine. German media have cited estimates that between 200,000 and 1 million people could flee to the EU from Ukraine.