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Lukashenko: Belarus receives nearly 200,000 Ukrainians since 2014

MINSK, 18 March (BelTA) – Belarus has received some 200,000 people from Ukraine since the conflict broke out in 2014, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with the Japanese TV channel TBS on 17 March, BelTA has learned.

“A couple thousands of people have recently arrived in Belarus [since 24 February 2022]. Some of them have relatives in Belarus but they all are fleeing the conflict. All in all, about 200,000 people have arrived in Belarus since the conflict started in 2014. Some say 170,000-180,000 refugees, others – 200,000. Very few people have returned to Ukraine. They are now coming back to Belarus,” said the head of state.

“Thousands of people have come to Belarus. They are guaranteed the same rights as Belarusians. The reason for fewer numbers of Ukrainians coming to Belarus now is that because they have to pass through the positions of the Russian troops in order to get to Belarus. This fact restrains people from Kiev, other cities. People from the cities that are in the rear of the Russian troops such as Chernigov, and others, have been actively coming to Belarus,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

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