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- More than 136,000 evacuees received at UNHCR-supported centers this year, up 70% from 2025, says agency’s regional director for Europe
By Beyza Binnur Donmez
GENEVA (AA) - The UN refugee agency on Tuesday warned that intensifying Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and civilian facilities are driving further displacement, leaving millions without heating or electricity and with limited access to water and other essentials.
UNHCR Regional Director for Europe Philippe Leclerc told reporters in Geneva that increasingly frequent missile and drone strikes were threatening civilians across Ukraine, including in areas far from the front lines.
Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 14, 10 security incidents affected UNHCR personnel or humanitarian partners, including strikes near aid workers, offices, warehouses and clearly marked humanitarian vehicles.
“UNHCR calls on the Russian Federation to cease attacks on civilians and reiterates that humanitarian workers and assets must be protected and not treated as targets,” Leclerc said.
Since January, more than 136,000 evacuees have passed through UNHCR-supported transit centers, about 70% more than the nearly 80,000 recorded throughout 2025, according to the agency.
Nearly 40% of those fleeing are elderly, while many others have disabilities.
An estimated 10.8 million people inside Ukraine need humanitarian assistance, while nearly 5.2 million Ukrainian refugees remain across Europe.
Leclerc also warned of growing anti-refugee rhetoric and hostility toward refugees in parts of Europe, urging governments to maintain support for displaced Ukrainians and host communities.
A recent survey found that 67% of adult Ukrainian refugees across nine European countries were employed in 2025, while 84% of refugee children attended national schools.
Beyza Binnur Dönmez
