The conflict in Ukraine escalated into a war on 24 February 2022. Bombs and shelling continue, damaging homes, hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure.

Some 5.4 million people are displaced inside Ukraine, while over 8 million have fled to neighboring countries to seek safety.

Ukraine, which became an independent country in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has been working to forge closer ties with the European Union and with NATO, which escalated the tensions with Russia. In 2014, Russia illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula and began backing pro-Russian separatists in parts of eastern Ukraine. Eight years of fighting have resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 people, forced more than 850,000 people from their homes, and left almost 3 million in need of aid. Eight years later, the conflict escalated into a war.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in one of the world’s largest refugee crises and the war continues to force people—most of them women, girls and the elderly—to flee across borders to Poland, Moldova and other European states. Women and girls, especially those traveling alone, could be at risk of exploitation and abuse, including sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking.

Over 8 million refugees have had to leave their homes in Ukraine since February 24, many of them seeking safety in Poland. Today, there are over 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine registered in Poland.

People continue to arrive at Ukraine’s borders with Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova. While basic humanitarian needs, like food and protection, are largely being met, additional integration support, such as job opportunities, long-term accommodation and language classes, are needed to help refugees rebuild their livelihoods.