Situation beyond the eastern border

A record number of over 100,000 people entered Poland from Ukraine yesterday (February 28). Today (March 1), by 7:00 a.m., this number was already 24,000. Since February 24, Border Guard officers at the crossings with Ukraine have cleared more than 377,400 people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The head of the Polish government met with ambassadors from the European Union, the European Economic Area and other European countries. The aim of the meeting was to coordinate humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Poles are already involved in many ways in supporting their neighbours: both those fleeing the war and those defending their country.

Ukrainians fleeing the war and those fighting heroically to defend their country require support. From the very first moment, Polish women and men have become involved in many different ways - they organise collections, transport, provide accommodation, offer legal, psychological or interpreting assistance. The organisation of humanitarian aid is also a topic of international discussion. The head of the Polish government discussed these issues with the European Commissioner for Crisis Management during a video conversation.

PomagamUkrainie.gov.pl will enable coordination of humanitarian aid. It is a tool for people in need of aid, as well as organisations and individuals interested in providing it. Support will be provided from the Government Strategic Reserve Agency and other state institutions, as well as from local government, social and private funds.

Modern warfare does not only take place in reality, in Ukraine. Each and every one of us can experience the harmful activities taking place online - the information warfare. This is one area of the daily battle that is being waged not only by our Ukrainian neighbours.

All persons fleeing from Ukraine from the armed conflict do not need to register or worry about formalities at reception points. All persons fleeing Ukraine, seeking refuge in Poland, do not need to worry about the legality of their stay. There is also no need to submit any applications at the Office for Foreigners/voivodship offices / Border Guard posts in the coming days. The same applies to Ukrainian citizens staying in Poland whose residence permits have expired.

- "Poland will be a safe haven for refugees from Ukraine. Until the situation in Ukraine returns to normal, every Ukrainian seeking refuge in Poland will find it," said Minister Mariusz Kamiński. At a press conference (27 February), the Head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration spoke about assisting refugees from Ukraine. Information in this regard was also presented by Deputy Minister Paweł Szefernaker, Deputy Minister Błażej Poboży and Major-General Tomasz Praga, Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard.

Amid the Russian aggression, Ukraine needs almost all kinds of aid. This aid includes numerous actions on the international front, further sanctions, actual military equipment support as well as humanitarian aid for the victims of the conflict and for those fleeing in fear of their lives. It also covers railway sanitary and medical transport or distribution of aid measures in cooperation with governmental agencies and Ukrainian border guards.