Amid Russian troops' invasion into DPR and LPR, over 20,000 refugees arrive in Rostov Region

During the past 24 hours, more than 20,000 residents of Donbass arrived in the Rostov Region, the border guards have informed. The refugees' inflow into Russia continued amid the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) and the decision to send Russian troops to these regions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 18, a mass evacuation of residents of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR was announced. During the first two days, according to authorities, 66,000 refugees arrived in the Rostov Region of Russia.

Over 20,000 residents of the LPR and DPR have crossed the checkpoints on the Russian border within the past 24 hours, the "Interfax" reports, citing the press service of the Rostov regional department of the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service).

In the Rostov Region, up to 20,000 places are being prepared for refugees in health camps, sanatoriums and other temporary accommodation centres (TACs); they are organizing nutrition and medical care there.

On February 19, the presidential representative office in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) of Russia announced that the regions of Northern Caucasus were ready to accept 3300 refugees from eastern Ukraine.

Let us remind you that after the start of evacuation of Donbass residents, Russian law enforcers reported several times about armed incidents on the border of Ukraine with the Rostov Region. Thus, on February 21, the press service of the Southern Military District reported that border guards and military personnel killed five members of a "sabotage and reconnaissance group" and destroyed two combat vehicles that crossed the border near the village of Mityakinskaya. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Ukraine has refuted this information.