In just a week, Ukrainian refugee exodus exceeds 1 million
ABC News
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced more than a million people to flee their homeland in just a week
PRZEMYSL, Poland -- Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced more than a million people to flee their homeland in just a week, an exodus so swift it almost matches the number of people who sought refuge in Europe in a whole year during the 2015 migration crisis.
Seven years ago — again after Russian bombardments — hundreds of thousands of Syrians fled their strife-torn country. Together with people escaping fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere, they headed west, thousands dying at sea trying to reach a continent where many didn't want them.
That arrival of about 1.3 million people sparked tensions among European partners who squabbled over how many to accept, and bolstered far-right populists, some of whom were friendly to the Kremlin.
But as Russian forces inflict massive destruction on a neighboring nation today, Europeans have united in extending a helping hand.