Moscow, July 31 (IANS/ITAR -TASS): About 37,000 Ukrainian refugees live in temporary accommodation centres in Russia, Russian emergency situations ministry spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky said Thursday.
"Due to the ongoing crisis in southeastern Ukraine, people affected by these events from the border areas of the central and southern federal districts, the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol are coming to Russia," Drobyshevsky said.
"Russia’s ministry of emergency situations is working towards their accommodation and comprehensive support,” Drobyshevsky added.
Russia has already set up 497 temporary accommodation centres for Ukrainian refugees.
“They are providing shelter to 36,608 people, including 13,200 children,” Drobyshevsky said.
Ukrainian troops and local militants in the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk and Luhansk regions have been involved in fierce clashes as the Ukrainian armed forces are conducting a military operation to regain control over the breakaway regions, which in May proclaimed their independence at local referendums.