At the moment, the site functions as an archive of information and is maintained by a team of people from different countries.
This site is created for everyone affected by the war, regardless of nationality or location.
Assistance to residents of the Kherson region affected by the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station
In Ukraine
Emergency
Alert
- Online map of air alerts in Ukraine: when an alert is declared, the respective area turns red. The map shows details of a particular location and time of the alert and its duration;
- Everywhere in Ukraine, church bells can be used for air alerts. If you hear the bells ringing, go to the shelters immediately. [Source, 26.02.22];
- Download the application "Povitryana Tryvoha" ("Air Alert"): Android, iOS;
- Do's and don'ts during the shelling (text in Russian);
- Telegram channel with instructions for first aid in war situations (language: Ukrainian).
Safety instructions
If you live close to an airport or military base, think about moving in with friends/colleagues/relatives when the situation allows.
When the siren sounds, enter the nearest sheltered area or one of the following areas:
- Those who travel by car:
- If possible, stop at the roadside, leave the vehicle and go to the nearest building or shelter;
- If you can't get to the building or shelter at a short notice, lie on the ground face down and cover your head with your hands.
- Those who are not in a building:
- In the built-up area — enter the nearest building and follow the instructions for those who are hiding in a building;
- Outside built-up area — lie on the ground face down and cover your head with your hands.
- For those who are in a building — you should choose protection as follows:
- Enter the protected space on the same floor (level) and close the steel window or door;
- An inside space (eg. corridor) under strong beams;
- A room with a minimum number of windows.
In any case, sit on the floor (below the level of the window sill) and lean against the inner wall. Do not sit in front of or next to the windows.
Other dangers
Pimps and human traffickers have been spotted on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Links from napryamok.org can lead to resources with many different people ー Telegram channels and Facebook groups. Please be careful when interacting with strangers. Never transfer money to the accounts/cards of people you do not know, even if they promise to help.
Tribunal.ua is a website that is documenting evidence of war crimes against Ukrainian residents (in Ukrainian). If you witnessed a Russian war crime against civilians, record and send evidence using chatbots.
Sources of information
Official:
Unofficial:
- A page for a quick and easy search of the information regarding Ukraine during the war: where to read the news, get housing and transportation, how to help, what to do if an attack starts etc. (information in Ukrainian).
Documents to take with you
- Passport or any other ID;
- Documents for any children accompanying you (passports, if any; birth certificates);
- Documents to confirm relationships, such as marriage certificates, birth certificates. Even if your relatives are not traveling with you now, this may be the reason for their relocation and family reunification later;
- Take photos of the essential documents on your phone in case they are lost or stolen;
- Keep tickets and documents confirming your route, such as tickets, refuelling receipts, etc.;
- If you were in real danger, keep the evidence. Photos of destroyed or damaged housing, videos of shelling or bombing may be useful.
If you do not have these documents (they were lost, they burned, etc.), take any other documents, such as driver's license, military ID, education documents, birth certificates, savings passbooks, utility statements, registration of housing ownership, etc. The more documents you have in your name, the better.
If you lost your passport or ID, you can find it again in “Diia” app. The app is now connected to the population register again. The digital passport has the same legal force as the paper one and can be shown at checkpoints, to the representatives of the military and the police. [Source, 17.03.2022]
Bomb shelters
Chernivtsi (and Chernivtsi Region)
Dnipro (and Dnipropetrovsk Region)
Ivano-Frankivsk (and Ivano-Frankivsk Region)
Kherson (and Kherson Region)
Khmelnytskyi (and Khmelnytskyi Region)
Kropyvnytskyi (list)
Lviv (list), Lviv and Lviv Region (map)
Mariupol (list in Russian), Mariupol (list in Ukrainian)
Odessa (and Odessa Region)
Okhtyrka (list), Okhtyrka (map)
Poltava (and Poltava Region)
Zhytomyr (list), Zhytomyr (map)
You can apply to connect to the free internet in the shelter through the app "Kyiv Digital" (“Київ Цифровий”) or at the official site.
Security
Instructions
- Recommendations for women who are in or leaving the war zone (Instagram, language: Ukrainian);
- Brief instructions on how to protect yourself when using instant messengers by the Center for Counteracting Disinformation (Telegram, language: Ukrainian);
- The "ТиХто" application to simplify the procedure for checking suspicious persons and identifying saboteurs. Developed with the support of cyber-specialists of the Security Service of Ukraine. Download: for Android and iOS [Source];
- Checklist for preparing for war: a list of tips on how to prepare yourself, your family, home, and first aid kit for war.
Transport
How to protect yourself if someone obsessively offers you a ride:
- Do not get into the car if you see strange driver behavior;
- If the situation is difficult and you are ready to take risks, contact the police and provide his details;
- Ask the police to register this person before traveling;
- Take a photo of a driver's license with a person's face and send it to family and friends.
Hotline in Ukraine for such cases (La Strada centre):
- 0 800 500 335 (mobile or landline);
- 116 123 (mobile).
Hotline in Poland for such cases (La Strada centre):
- +48226289999 (help, consultation);
- +48605687750;
- +48226221985.
At the border / transport station
Volunteers in Germany and Poland report that single and young women with children are disappearing en masse at the border and at train stations. The offenders dress up as volunteers to take away women's passports under the pretext of "documentation" — these are kidnappings for the purpose of human trafficking. Volunteers are asking you to be vigilant and take precautions:
- Never to pass your passport to anyone (you can show it but don’t give it — a real volunteer will not ask you to give your passport). If they try to take your passport by force, shout, call for help.
- Try to stick together with other refugees until you arrive at the point of assistance. Do not travel alone in Europe and do not get off the train or bus unnecessarily until you arrive at your destination.
- Trust only to the proven volunteers and not anyone who pretends to be such. A real volunteer will not arrange your transportation and accommodation without initial registration, or select you by sex or age. If you have a connection, ask for the contacts of the organization the volunteer represents to verify their identity.
- If you do not know where to go and what to do next, contact the police officers or other officials, and not random bypassers.
- Spread this information and warn other women of the danger.
In the event of a missile attack
In the event of a missile attack, prepare a safe place at home and stock up on food, a flashlight, and communications equipment, including a landline phone, mobile phone, and chargers.
In the event of a rocket attack, the following measures should be taken immediately:
- Move to the safest and deepest space in the building with the fewest exterior walls, windows, and openings.
- Close the door to this space.
- Sit on the floor against an interior wall, away from windows.
- If you do not have time to take shelter in a building or find a protective cover: lie down and cover your head with your hands to avoid damage from debris/debris.
Do not approach debris or rocket fragments under any circumstances.
After a missile strike, never knock on, stand on, or inspect suspicious objects. Instead, immediately move away from the item(s) to a safe place and report their location.
If you need urgent medical attention and/or immediate police support, call the local emergency number (police — 102, ambulance — 103).
In case of a nuclear blast
How to act in case of a nuclear blast: fact sheet developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It describes what happens when a nuclear blast occurs, the possible health effects, and what you can do to protect yourself in this type of emergency (in English).
Iodine prophylaxis during a nuclear exposure
Iodine prophylaxis is an emergency way to protect the thyroid gland from the effects and accumulation of radioactive iodine isotopes. To protect yourself, it is necessary to take potassium iodide once after the official notification of the threat of a release. The allowable period of potassium iodide ingestion is 24 hours before or within 6 hours after the expected onset of exposure to radioactive substances. Dosage of the drug: for children from 12 years and adults up to 40 years — 125 mg; for pregnant women — 125 mg; for children under 1 month — 16 mg; for children from 1 month to 3 years — 32 mg; from 3 to 12 years — 62, 5 mg.
People over 40 years of age do not recommend iodine prophylaxis.
Do not take potassium iodide later than 14 hours after exposure to radioiodine — it is harmful. Remember that evacuation is more effective in protecting against radiation than taking potassium iodide again.
[Source: Regulation on Iodine Prophylaxis from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, in Ukrainian + article in English].
Emergency Action Checklist
- Prepare for a power outage. Try to prepare and fully charge the power bank. Also consider purchasing a portable generator if possible. You will need to learn how to use it.
- Water and Food: Store enough water and food for at least 3 days in a safe place.
- Cash: withdraw enough funds
- Gasoline: fill enough canisters and store them in a safe place
- Troubleshoot the Internet problems. Brief «What to do in case of blocking» (pdf-file, language: English).
- Navigation: Download offline maps to navigate when there is a power outage or internet outage. iOS and Android
- Documents: prepare a passport, identity card, printed copies of the passport, printed emergency numbers
Communicate safely:
- Use a messaging app with end-to-end encryption, such as "Signal";
- If you send data through a messenger program such as WhatsApp, delete it as soon as received by the recipient;
- Protect your phone and/or laptop with a strong password. Turn off devices if you leave them unattended;
- Delete the pictures on your phone. Keep only the bare minimum of files on your phone;
- We recommend limiting access to social media while you are not in a safe country. Delete data you don't need. Delete your accounts if you no longer need them. Check and possibly delete your digital history.
Helping for activists in risk areas:
- Please register with FFF ARZ using this form. This way we know you need support and can help coordinate efforts (language: Ukrainian).
- Communicate before moving to different cities from ARZ; travel only when necessary.
Prepare the following for the emergency bag:
- fully charged phone;
- fully charged power bank;
- passport, identity card, medical documents, insurance documents, Covid vaccination documents;
- light sources (including backup batteries);
- compact, light and nutritious food;
- water (3 liters per person);
- whistle;
- blankets;
- sanitation and personal hygiene items (disinfectant gel, toilet paper, medicine; diapers, spare glasses, contact lenses);
- good waterproof shoes and basic warm clothing;
- rain protection;
- emergency blanket;
- multi-tool (if equipped);
- garbage bags;
- list of important phone numbers;
- matches in a waterproof container;
- emergency kit;
- radio with batteries.
General emergency numbers
- Police — 102
- Ambulance — 103
- Firefighters — 101
- Gas emergency service — 104
Curfew
During the curfew, public transport does not work; only staff of the services providing city’s life support can move around the city. It may be staff members of regional, military, or civilian administration, transport or utility companies, and thermal or nuclear stations. Each one providing with a personal let-pass from the administration. The service cars of the companies listed above that are in usage as well need to have a special permission pass.
- Kyiv ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (as of August 20th);
- Kyiv Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (as of August 20th);
- Cherkasy Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 17.05);
- Chernihiv Region ー from 11 PM to 4 AM (since 7.06);
- Chernivtsi Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 14.04);
- Dnipropetrovsk Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 10.05), Dnipro and Kamianske ー from 00:00 to 5 AM (since 25.06), Nikopol district ー from 9 PM to 5 AM (from 16.07);
- Donetsk Region ー from 9 PM to 5 AM (since 01.09);
- Ivano-Frankivsk Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 10.05);
- Kharkiv Region ー from 10 PM to 6 AM (since 25.08);
- Kherson Region ー depends on the area, check here;
- Khmelnytskyi Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 15.04);
- Kirovohrad Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 20.06);
- Lviv Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 23.04);
- Lugansk Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 23.05);
- Mariupol ー from 9 PM to 5 AM for children under 16 years old, for all others ー from 11 PM to 5 AM;
- Mykolaiv Region ー from 11 PM to 6 AM (since 05.07);
- Odesa Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 25.05);
- Poltava Region ー from 10 PM to 5 AM (since 01.09);
- Rivne Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 10.05);
- Sumy Region ー from 11 PM to 4 AM (since 20.06);
- Ternopil Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 15.04);
- Volyn Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 25.05);
- Vinnytsia Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 23.04);
- Zakarpattia Region ー was not imposed;
- Zaporizhzhia Region ー from 10 PM to 5 AM;
- Zhytomyr Region ー from 11 PM to 5 AM (since 4.05).
Healthcare
Pharmacies
- A map of operating pharmacies all around Ukraine;
- A map of operating pharmacies in Kyiv; the ones that have insulin in stock highlighted in green;
- List of pharmacies where you can get insulin during the war (there are area pages at the bottom of the table);
- Pharmacies with insulin in stock can also be found via Tabletki.ua;
- The State Drugs and Medications Control Service in Ukraine: Relevant news about pharmacies state
Medicine
- Facebook group for medicine exchange in Ukraine: you can find, give away, or get necessary medicaments in the group (in Ukrainian);
- Telegram chat for medication exchange in Kiev;
- Medicine delivery and humanitarian assistance in Ukraine: group "Polyanytsya";
- Telegram bot "March Zhіnok — Zhіnochiy Rukh": assistance with products, medicine, doctors, psychological help 24/7 for women and kids in any city.
Information for women
- Telegram chat with professional help to women who are to give out-of-hospital or emergency birth, also to pregnant women, and women that already gave birth: medical, psychological, and consultation support from volunteer specialists (languages: Russian, Ukrainian);
- Miscarriage in a wartime: How to cope with? A memo on Instagram (language: Ukrainian);
- Women's health in a period of war: How can your body react? (Instagram post, language: Ukrainian);
- Searching for a midwife: The online channel of Ukrainian doulas supporting pregnant women;
- "March Zhіnok — Zhіnochiy Rukh" chatbot: Assistance with products, medicine, doctors, psychological help 24/7 for women and kids in any city.
Medical consultations
- Free online medical consutations for patients from Ukraine and Poland: psychological support, qualified pediatric, gynecologic, neurologic, dermatologic, and cardiac care by the project TeleHelp Ukraine (languages: Ukrainian, English);
- Chatbot Dobrobut helps to find a medical specialist and to arrange a medical consultation on-line (in Ukrainian);
- Free online medical care for Ukrainian citizens who do not have access to in-person medical services: consultations on various healthcare issues are available via the Telegram bot Likar na vijni (Doctor at War) for adults and Telegram bot Dityachij likar na vijni (Children’s Doctor at War) for children (in Ukrainian);
- The national contact-center of the Ministry of Healthcare consults Ukrainian citizens day-and-night for free on various healthcare issues by phone 0800602019 [source, in Ukrainian];
- Free cardiology consultations in Viber with specialists from the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery: more information, contacts, and working hours are on the institute website (in Ukrainian);
- Free surgical care for people in need of facial reconstruction due to war. Provided by a plastic surgery clinic (Instagram post in Ukrainian);
- ‘Healthcare for all’: Free online consultations from doctors of different specializations via the TG group chat. You can also leave a request for a consultation through a Telegram bot;
- Likarnya Online (Online Clinic) provides free online medical support for Ukrainians by doctors from all over the world. Consultations are held in Russian, Ukrainian, and English. More information and an entry form is on the website (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English);
- Free medical care and online consultations via the mobile app Medprofcentr: download for Android, iOS. More information is on the website (in Ukrainian);
- Medical help bot: Searching for medicine, doctors, carriage;
- Belarusian non-state platform for online medical consultations; Ukrainian citizens can get a distant help for free;
- ‘Zabota’: TG bot that searching for doctors;
- Medical assistance in a wartime: Information desk with relevant records (in Ukrainian). General recommendations for treating health problems in various areas (gynecology, gastroenterology, etc.) when you cannot go to a doctor;
- Doctors4UA is a social project that provides free medical consultations for Ukrainians who can not visit a doctor physically (website in Ukrainian, Russian, and English).
Guides and Checklists
Instructions and memos
- Checklist for preparing for war: a list of tips on how to prepare yourself, your family, home, and first aid kit for war (in Russian);
- What to do if there is no internet: a list of offline messengers (in Russian);
- Creating an emergency digital communications tool to prepare for emergency cases of lack of Internet and mobile communications: a step-by-step guide for installing and assembling a radio network in 4 parts (in Russian);
- Recommendations for people with disabilities in an emergency (in Ukrainian)
- Memo for citizens of Ukraine «What to do if you are being evacuated to Russia» in TG-channel Free Belarus Center (in Ukrainian).
Chatbots
- A chatbot providing information on surviving in a critical situation (in Ukrainian);
- First aid chatbot (in English and Russian);
- A chatbot for blocking disinformation channels (in Ukrainian);
- A chatbot for notifying about the invaders and enemy machinery (in Ukrainian);
- A Telegram bot that provides tips on how to behave in an emergency, as well as telephone numbers for rescue and emergency services and other useful information (in Ukrainian).
First aid and survival advice
- First aid basics: How to check if a person is conscious and breathing? (video in Ukrainian);
- Emergency assistance for an unconscious person (video in Ukrainian);
- Emergency treatment in case of bleeding (video in Ukrainian);
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adults: Chest compressions and artificial respiration (video in Ukrainian);
- Emergency care in case of seizures (video in Ukrainian);
- If you run out of baby formula — how to make it yourself (Instagram post, in Russian).
Psychological assistance
- Round-the-clock helpline “Telephon doverija” from the he Kyiv City Center for Gender Equality, Prevention, and Counteraction to Violence: crisis counseling for victims of domestic violence, psychological help for people experiencing psychotraumatic situation. Call +380442721500 (mobile), 1500 (landline). More details here: website, Instagram of the organization;
- Free psychological help to Ukrainians in time of war from the VARTO ZHYTY foundation: phone 5522 (Mon – Fri, 11 am – 7 pm; for lifecell, Vodafone, Київстар subscribers). More details: website;
- Psychological help for Ukrainians: TG channel with 500+ specialists ready to assist 24/7;
- Individual psychological support by volunteer specialists and lives about self help in crisis situations in the Telegram chat Hochu Govoriti (Want to Talk) (in Ukrainian);
- Emergency psychological aid service: Day-and-night online help;
- "March Zhіnok — Zhіnochiy Rukh" chat-bot: psychological help 24/7 for women and kids in any city;
- Form of the Volunteer Center for Psychological Support ObijMi: Ask for assistance
- 'Mindly': Psychological support for Ukrainians, affected by war;
- Online platform Tell me: Free psychological aid;
- KAF: A cost-free online service for Ukrainian families seeking medical and psychological support;
- 'Crisis Advice': Gratis psychological assistance for crisis cases from the Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy of the Ukrainian Catholic University;
- TG channel from the public organization 'Institute of Cognitive Modeling' with useful tips for maintaining and improving mental health.
State Migration Service
If you lost your passport or ID, you can find it again in “Diia". The app is now connected to the population register again. The digital passport has the same legal force as the paper one and can be shown at checkpoints, to the representatives of the military and the police. Find more information here.
- State Migration Service (SMS) of Ukraine website (language: Ukrainian, English).
- Facebook group of State Migration Service (language: Ukrainian).
Local offices of the SMS, located in areas where there is no active hostilities, will reopen and resume the provision of administrative services (in particular, documents for issuing an ID card, passport, temporary residence) [Source, 16.03.2022]
- The SMS will carry out pasting photos into the passport of a citizen of Ukraine in the form of a booklet, extend the validity of foreign passports and enter information about children.
- Citizens who have lost their documents or whose validity period has expired can apply to the nearest territorial body or division of the SMS.
- Paperwork can be carried out in any territorial body or division of the SMS, regardless of the registered place of residence.
You can find out the work schedule of the territorial bodies of the SMS by calling the following numbers:
- Vinnitsa region: +380432673301;
- Volyn region: +380322284076;
- Dnipropetrovsk region: +380567203017;
- Donetsk region: +380955385703;
- Zhytomyr region: +380987090601;
- Transcarpathian region: +380312640565;
- Zaporozhye region: +380681791111;
- Ivano-Frankivsk region: +380342553112;
- Kirovograd region: +380522321811;
- Lviv region: +380322614902;
- Mykolaiv region: +380512374007;
- Odessa region: +380487053168, +380501902621;
- Poltava region: +380532565145;
- Rivne region: +380362699434, +380362634508;
- Sumy region: +380506377737;
- Ternopil region: +380352271389;
- Khmelnitsky region: +380932738510;
- Kharkov region: +380965961021, +380677186843;
- Cherkasy region: +380472541139;
- Chernivtsi region: +380372550461, +380372550461;
- Chernihiv region: +380939988760;
- Kyiv and Kyiv region: +380509498270, +380980432484, +380632593911;
- Call center SE "Document" (information about the work of the centers "Passport Service"): +380445978777;
---
The Hotline of the State Migration Service is resumed:
- For administrative services, please contact:
- +380501382911 (Vodafon) — only voice calls;
- +380969150028 (Kyivstar) — voice calls. Using this number you can also communicate with the operator in Viber and Whatsapp messengers using text messages.
- For questions about checking the status of paperwork:
- +380960332442 (Kyivstar) — voice calls/ Using this number you can also communicate with the operator in Viber and Whatsapp messengers using text messages.
Working hours of the Hotline: 9.00 to 18.00.
Help by city
Chats for evacuation and border crossing
General information
The section contains a list of chats for finding drivers with personal vehicles, as well as helping those who cannot or do not know how to get out.
The form for submitting information about passengers to the chat:
- Location
- Phone number (whom to contact)
- Number of people
---
Chats and Forms
Help in Ukraine, you need to fill out a form (evacuation, transport, overnight stay, humanitarian aid)
Sofiivska Borshchahivka, Vyshneve, Boyarka (chat)
Olexandria
- Olexandria | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Brovary
- The Unified Humanitarian Center in Brovary coordinates the population's needs for humanitarian aid: contact details for requesting assistance are listed on the official website (in Ukrainian)
- Brovary | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Bukovina
Volunteer Headquarters of NGO «Hromadske Radniki» («Public Advisors»):
- +380951536298,
- +380985088484
Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Vinnytsia
Volunteering
Telegram chat "Vinnytsia | Ukrainian Volunteer Service", where you can post an announcement, fill out a volunteer form or find a volunteer (language: Ukrainian).
---
Humanitarian aid
- Humanitarian, psychological, legal, medical support to families from the Mariupol oblast in Vinnytsia from "YaMariupol" Support Hub at ul. Sobornaya, 50 (Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 to 18:00). For details, visit the hub's Facebook page and Telegram channel (in Ukrainian).
- Targeted humanitarian aid from the Vinnytsia Coordination Headquarters (Facebook, in Ukrainian): to ask for help you need to fill out the form specifying your requirements or contact the headquarters by phone: +380509342806;
- The Humanitarian Centre in Vinnitsa has clothes and useful items for internally displaced people. Address — 16a Kievskaya Street ("Tetris" Mall, 1st floor). Essentials, clothes and shoes for adults and children, toys, etc. [Source, in Ukrainian];
- Assistance to people with disabilities from the "Harmoniya Community Organization": food and hygiene kits, mobility aid, transport assistance. For details and contact information see the organization's Facebook page (languages: Ukrainian, English);
- "Palianica.Info" is an open database of organizations that provide humanitarian and volunteer assistance to the population all over Ukraine. On the project's website you can find more than 950 organizations and initiatives, which are regularly updated (language: Ukrainian);
- Humanitarian aid from the organization "Vis" to evacuated women, women with children, people with disabilities, and elderly women. To register for aid, you need to send an SMS to the number +380502574284; in the message, specify the following: last name, first name, where you are from, the age of children and/or elderly women, whether you have a disability. Read more: Facebook post.
---
For kids
Educational and recreational meetings, workshops, events for children in the Vinnytsia Regional Youth Center "Kvadrat": details and announcements get published on the center's Facebook page (in Ukrainian).
Volochysk
Headquarters for assistance to citizens from the war zone:
- You can help with pillows, bed linen, blankets, personal hygiene products, towels and other things.
- The headquarters are located in 33 Pushkina st. (former kindergarten «Belochka»)
- cell 0683891543 (Larisa)
Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Volyn
- Humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons and the vulnerable groups of population from the organization "Caritas. Volyn": you can find contact details on the organization's website (in Ukrainian)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
East
- East | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Horishni Plavni
- Horishni Plavni | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Dnipro
Dnipro | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
Coordinating Headquarters of Dnipro volunteers: contacts for internally displaced persons, information about accommodation and humanitarian aid, addresses of humanitarian and volunteering points in Dnipro are on the website (languages: Ukrainian, English, French, etc).
---
Evacuation
- Evacuation from Dnipro and its regions (table)
---
Humanitarian aid
- Humanitarian aid, psychological support, and events for internally displaced persons in the Youth Center are organized by the SpivDia Hub Dnipro: contacts and more information can be found on the project’s Facebook page (in Ukrainian)
- Help with temporary accommodation, psychological and legal support, humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons is provided by the Kust organization: the link to contacts; more information is on the organization’s Instagram profile (in Ukrainian)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
- A 24-hour hotline for resettlers in Dnipro provides information about housing, food, and medical care: +380891203304; +380663282503 [Source]
Donetsk
- Free of charge evacuation from Donetsk oblast to Dnipro from “Zorya” Help Center: departs from Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Soledar, Mykolaivka, Bakhmut. For contact forms to register at each city see the Telegram post of the organization. Details: website (in Russian, Ukrainian, and English), the Facebook page of the organization (in Russian, Ukrainian);
- The algorithm of evacuation from the Donetsk Oblast on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Reintegration: there you can find official contacts for seeking help, the route, the information on social care for internally displaced persons (in Ukrainian)
- Evacuation from the frontline areas of the Donetsk oblast by the Vostok SOS organization: safe exit to evacuation trains, assistance with the evacuation of people with disabilities: website (languages: Ukrainian, Russian). Evacuation announcements are published on the organization’s Instagram page (in Ukrainian);
- "Palianica.Info" is an open database of organizations that provide humanitarian and volunteer assistance to the population all over Ukraine. On the project's website, you can find more than 950 organizations and initiatives, which are regularly updated (language: Ukrainian).
Drohobych
- Drohobych | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Zhytomir
- Zhytomir | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Announcements of evacuation from Zhitomir (table, updated daily)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Zhmerynka
- Zhmerynka | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Zacarpattia
- “Zakarpattia Volunteers” (website in Ukrainian and English) help Ukrainian combatants, war-affected civilians, as well as children suffering from serious diseases, and children living in orphanages of the Zakarpattia region. The volunteers provide humanitarian aid, psychological support, and help people to adapt. You can find more info on the organization’s Instagram account (in Ukrainian);
- Volunteer Headquarters of NGO «Hromadske Radniki» («Public Advisors»): +380962843368;
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Announcements of evacuation from Zakarpattia (table, updated daily)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Zaporizhzhia
- Help with building materials and tools for repair and renovation of buildings damaged during the war: to request help, use the form (in Ukrainian) or call +380965262006. Help is arranged by the ‘Liudyna v Bidi’, ‘Posmishka’ and ‘Domcomfort’ initiatives
- Humanitarian aid, financial support, psychological and legal assistance for internally displaced persons and vulnerable groups of population from the charity organization "Caritas. Zaporizhzhia": for details and contact information visit the organization's Facebook-page (in Ukrainian)
- Zaporizhzhia | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Evacuation from Zaporizhzhia (table, updated daily)
- Humanitarian Aid to the victims of war (Instagram page, Ukrainian)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Ivano-Frankivsk
Volunteer Headquarters of NGO «Hromadske Radniki» («Public Advisors»):
- +380989088204,
- +380506566586,
- +380685367978,
- +380973544372
---
Chats
- Ivano-Frankivsk | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
---
Humanitarian aid
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
---
Evacuation
Announcements of evacuation from Ivano-Frankivsk (table, updated daily)
Irpin
- Irpin | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Тelegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Kamenskoye
- Kamenskoye | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Kyiv
You can find scheduled stabilizing and urgent/emergency power cuts for your address on DTEK website (in Ukrainian, English, and Russian).
Download the application «Povitryana alarm» («Air Raid»): Android, Apple
---
Information
- Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA)
---
Chats
- Kyiv Chat
- Kyiv | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Тelegram-chat)
- Help Ukraine/Kyiv
- KyivHelp
---
Humanitarian aid
General
- List of bases of the humanitarian headquarters of Kyiv
- Humanitarian assistance from the Jewish centers of Chabad (help is provided to everyone, regardless of nationality and religion) — Kyiv, 13 Shota Rustaveli st., tel: 380442359082
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
- You can fill out an application for humanitarian aid on the website of the Humanitarian Center in Kiev. Food and essentials distribution areas are marked on the map of Kiev humanitarian centers (language: Ukrainian)
- A new section "Допомога киянам" ("Help for the Kyivans") has appeared in the app "Київ Цифровий" ("Kyiv Digital"). Here you can register to receive humanitarian aid for socially unprotected provided by the humanitarian aid headquarters (Kyiv only), offer humanitarian aid; sign up as a volunteer; apply for the Wi-Fi connection in the shelter. Details here.
- Humanitarian aid in a critical situation from the Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement organization to the military, combatants and their families, as well as internally displaced persons (upon presentation of supporting documents): to apply, you must fill out a form on the organization's website (in Ukrainian, English).
Food and medicine
- Map: Kiev bread stores owned by Kiev Bread company
- Application form: food aid for those in need. Provided by Dopomoga Kiev Telegram channel
- Map of pump rooms in Kyiv
- Map of vending machines with free drinking water (you can find the same map in the Kyiv Tsyfrovy app)
- The Bafood service delivers hot food in Kyiv for free (from 30 servings in Shulyavsky and Solomensky districts, on Obolon and the Left Bank): to order, you need to DM them on Instagram here
- Kyiv. Obolon. Starting March 1, 2022, drinking water in Eco Water stores will be dispensed free of charge. Store addresses
- To ensure that everyone has enough water, the limit will be set at 40 liters per person.
- Military and doctors — unlimited, without waiting in line! From 9:00 to 16:00.
For children and women
- NGO «Divchata» — humanitarian assistance to women and children, first in Kyiv and Kyiv region
---
Evacuation
- Evacuation from Kiev (table, updated daily)
---
Health care
- Map of working pharmacies in Kyiv (pharmacies that have insulin are marked)
- Medical assistance to everyone present in Kyiv. On the basis of the Center for Innovative Medical Technologies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Hospital.
- Address: 22Voznesensky descent, Kyiv
- Coordination center: 0997384301 (Nina Rotan is the main coordinator)
- Map: Kiev children and adult emergency rooms
- A center for cardiotherapy has opened at the Central Railway Station. All procedures are carried out at the infirmary of the railway station, the entrance is located on the east side of Platform 1. The service is free for all passengers. Dzherelo.
---
Other
- Reserve of volunteers for the central hospital of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (and other hospitals that admit the wounded). For 4th, 5th, 6th year students, doctors, nurses who are in Kyiv and do not plan to leave the city in the near future. Added an option for country regions!
- Volunteer coordinating headquarters of Sergei Prytula (assistance to the city defenders, in the area of the Zoloti Vorota metro station).
- The page indicates what people need, if you have something from the list and are ready to donate, call the hotline to coordinate the transfer: +380680716371 and +380731672646
- Help for LGBTQ+ people in Kyiv
- How to leave Kyiv: useful services and chats
- Map: Kiev pet stores and veterinary clinics. Addresses, contact information, work schedule (language: Ukrainian)
If line 102 is overloaded, how to call the police:
- reserve number — (067) 231 18 68
- Holosivske PD — (063)425 43 99
- Darnitske PD — (067) 650 69 21
- Desnyanske PD — (067) 650 69 22
- Dniprovske PD — (067) 650 69 23
- Obolonske PD — (067) 124 19 49
- Pecherske PD — (067) 639 28 35
- Podilske PD — (097) 893 84 14
- Svyatoshynske PD — (098) 734 06 46
- Solom'yanske PD — (073) 104 41 38
- Shevchenkivske PD — (067) 650 69 24
- Metro PD — (096) 490 16 98
Kramatorsk
Local authorities urge the residents of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and the nearest settlements to evacuate. You can leave for safe areas by train through Kharkiv. Trains depart to Kharkiv from Lozova station 6 times a day: 05:10, 07:00, 12:44, 15:43, 17:40 and 19:40 (to Biliaevka).
You can leave Kharkiv for:
- Uzhgorod (train Nº 45, departs daily at 13:10);
- Ivano-Frankivsk (train Nº 15, departs at 16:35 on even dates);
- Kyiv (train Nº 725, departs daily at 08:30 and train Nº 723, departs daily at 13:34);
- Odesa (from 29.07.: train Nº 287, departs at 07:58 on odd dates).
At Lozova station, you can take the Kharkiv – Odesa train (Nº 287, from 29.07.): the train from Kharkiv arrives at the station at 10:24.
You can also take the free Pokrovsk – Dnipro – Lviv evacuation train (train Nº 234, departs daily at 16:30) to leave. [Source: Telegram-channel of Ukrzaliznytsia, in Ukrainian.]
- Kramatorsk | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation purchased and brought to the region more than 20,000 medical kits. Foundation hotline: 0800509001
- Food of life — hot food in Kramatorsk, Donetsk, Makeevka, Khartsyzsk, Zugres
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Announcements of evacuation from Kramatorsk (table, updated daily)
Kremenchug
- Kremenchug | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Where to get humanitarian aid in Kremenchug: hotlines authorities and volunteer centers (article in Russian and Ukrainian)
Kryvyi Rih
- Kryvyi Rih | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Evacuation from Kryvyi Rih (table, updated daily)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Kropyvnytskiy
- Kropyvnytskyi | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Announcements of evacuation from Kropyvnytskiy / Kirovograd (table, updated daily)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Luhansk
- Announcements of evacuation from Luhansk (table, updated daily)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
- Informational, humanitarian and psychological assistance from the Vostok SOS organization. Details and hotline numbers can be found on the organization's website and Facebook page
Lutsk
- Lutsk | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram-chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Announcements of evacuation from Lutsk (table, updated daily)
Lviv
See the website of Lviv Regional Administration (in Ukrainian) for official information for internally displaced persons in Lviv: issuance of necessary documents, housing search, social assistance, medical care, hotline numbers, etc.
Volunteer Headquarters of NGO «Hromadske Radniki» («Public Advisors»):
- (032) 254 60 79
---
Chats
- Telegram chat with mutual help in Lviv
- Lviv Chat
- Telegram chat "Lviv | Ukrainian Volunteer Service", where you can post an announcement, fill out a volunteer form or find a volunteer (language: Ukrainian).
---
Humanitarian aid
General
- "Palianica.Info" is an open database of organizations that provide humanitarian and volunteer assistance to the population all over Ukraine. On the project's website you can find more than 950 organizations and initiatives, which are regularly updated (language: Ukrainian);
- Collection of provisions in the Lviv subdivision of the «Plast» community;
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers);
- Points of humanitarian aid for IDPs:
- 1 Signivka st.
- 71 Zamarstinivska st. (entrance from Tsiganivka st.),
- 2 Franza Lista st.,
- 14 Sikhivska st.,
- 2 Petrushevicha st.,
- 71 Chuprynki st.
Housing
- Temporary housing in Lviv
- TG channel “Shelter in Lviv and the region”
- Facebook group for finding shelter in Lviv
For women
- Assistance to internally displaced women and children with free temporary accommodation in Lviv, psychological support, humanitarian aid from the Women’s Perspectives organization: details and contacts on the organization's website (in Ukrainian, English)
- Help chat for pregnant women in Lviv
- Shelter for women with children
- FemWork — helps women and vulnerable people in Lviv to find a place to live, care for children, humanitarian and psychological support (website, Ukrainian / English)
---
Transport
- Transfer search group «Pidvezu Zakhid» («I will give a ride to the West»)
Mariupol
- Mariupol | Ukrainian Volunteer Service
- Telegram-channel with links to house and district chats in Mariupol, chats of local grass-roots committees (in Russian)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
- Mariupol — search: Telegram channel, Facebook groups here and here, on Instagram, spreadsheet
- «Mariupol now» — news in Telegram and Instagram (here you can send up-to-date information on Mariupol, if you were able to leave, etc.).
- Urgent news on the Telegram channel of the Mariupol City Council [Source: Rada website]
- Chat Mariupol 0629. News, people search
- Operational information on evacuation chat. News
- Ask for help on the Razom platform. Information on the city.
- Evacuation by volunteers Bratske sertse chat and instagram
- Information on evacuation by volunteers chat — Denis Minin
- Help volunteers with evacuation here
- Help with search for volunteers here
Melitopol
- Melitopol | Ukrainian Volunteer Service
- Humanitarian Aid Center: food, clothes, kitchen utensils, personal hygiene products
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Mykolaiv
- Food and medical supplies for internally displaced persons and vulnerable people are provided by the Svetli spravy organization. To apply for help, you need to fill out the form (in Ukrainian)
- Evacuation from Nikolaev to Odessa for women, children, families from the Shlyakh do Domu Foundation: you can find contact information on the organization's Facebook-page (in Ukrainian)
- Mykolaiv | Ukrainian Volunteer Service
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Announcements of evacuation from Mykolaiv (table)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Nemyriv
Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Odesa
Evacuation
Launch of a new evacuation route Odesa (Ukraine) — Tulcea (Romania) [Source]
Announcements of evacuation from Odessa (table, updated daily)
---
Chats
- Odesa Chat
- Odesa | Ukrainian Volunteer Service
- Belarusians in Odesa
---
For those seeking help
Humanitarian aid:
- Medication assistance from the Your City Foundation: the list of available medicines is indicated on the organization's Instagram-page (in Ukrainian) — to get help, you need to send a direct message
- Humanitarian assistance from the Jewish centers of Chabad (help is provided to everyone, regardless of nationality and religion) — 21 Osipova st., tel: 380487280770
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
For vulnerable groups:
- The «Shlyakh do domu» Foundation — temporary accommodation and food assistance for internally displaced persons (for women with children, families), transfer to the Moldova border. Contact information is on the Facebook-page of the organization (in Ukrainian)
- Assistance to vulnerable groups of population and internally displaced persons from charitable organizations in Odesa: the Bezmezhni Mozhlivosti Foundation, the Good Samaritan Foundation
- Assistance with employment for internally displaced persons and Odesa residents, psychological support for mothers, children and pregnant women from the project «You are Ukraine»: you can find details and contact information on the organization's website and the Facebook-page (in Ukrainian, English)
- Humanitarian aid to the ones displaced from hot spots to Odesa and Odesa Oblast, people with disabilities, single mothers with many children from the foundation "With Odesa in the heart": to get help, you need to fill out a form on the organization's website (in Ukrainian, English)
- Humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons in Odessa from the organization "Odessa Breath": information on the procedure for receiving assistance, the address and the working hours of the office are indicated in the Highlight story "How to get" on the Instagram-page of the organization (in Russian)
- Humanitarian aid to single mothers and mothers of many children, people with disabilities, comprehensive assistance for internally displaced persons from the Zhinki Poruch Foundation: the details of the support programs and contact information are on the organization's website (in Ukrainian, Russian)
- Humanitarian aid to the vulnerable groups of population and internally displaced persons from the Humanitarian Volunteer Center in Odessa: addresses and contact details of the assistance centers are listed on the website (in Ukrainian, English)
Other help:
- 24/7 telephone hotline on social issues and accommodation for resettled persons in Odessa: +380800333136
- Phone numbers of territorial social service centers and addresses of regional stations of distribution of humanitarian kits, information on legal, medical and social assistance to internally displaced persons on the official city website (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English)
- Center for Social Services — (048) 793-46-03
Poltava
- Humanitarian aid to internally displaced families from the charitable organization «Caritas. Poltava»: contact information is on the organization's Facebook-page (in Ukrainian)
- Targeted humanitarian aid in Poltava for internally displaced persons and residents of the city in difficult life circumstances from the organization «Sila I Rozum»: contact details and addresses of aid points are on the organization's Facebook-page and Telegram-channel (in Ukrainian)
- The form for receiving food packages for internally displaced persons in Poltava from the Poltava City Council and the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation [Source, in Ukrainian]
- The hotline for the ones displaced to Poltava: 0800331787 [Source, in Ukrainian]
- Poltava | Ukrainian Volunteer Service
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Evacuation from Poltava (table)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Rivne
General
- Information about assistance in Rivne (for city residents, volunteers, refugees)
- Hotline of Rivne Regional State Administration — 0800500078
- Humanitarian help line of the Regional State Administration — 0800400377
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
---
Contacts
- Head of Regional State Administration
- Head of Rivne region
- Rivne Regional State Administration
- Regional Patrol Police / Facebook
- Police of Rivne region
- Operational news of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
---
Volunteers
- Rivne | Ukrainian Volunteer Service
Other volunteers
- Волонтери Рівне (Telegram-chat, you can ask for help and offer your own)
- Штаб Драмтеатр (Telegram-chat, announcements of help needed, collecting things)
---
Evacuation
Announcements of evacuation from Rivne (table, updated daily)
---
Information channels
- Radio track
- Rivne1
- Suspilne Rivne (Public Rivne)
- Rivne 1283
- ITV Rivne News
Slovyansk
Local authorities urge the residents of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and the nearest settlements to evacuate. You can leave for safe areas by train through Kharkiv. Trains depart to Kharkiv from Lozova station 6 times a day: 05:10, 07:00, 12:44, 15:43, 17:40 and 19:40 (to Biliaevka).
You can leave Kharkiv for:
- Uzhgorod (train Nº 45, departs daily at 13:10);
- Ivano-Frankivsk (train Nº 15, departs at 16:35 on even dates);
- Kyiv (train Nº 725, departs daily at 08:30 and train Nº 723, departs daily at 13:34);
- Odesa (from 29.07.: train Nº 287, departs at 07:58 on odd dates).
At Lozova station, you can take the Kharkiv – Odesa train (Nº 287, from 29.07.): the train from Kharkiv arrives at the station at 10:24.
You can also take the free Pokrovsk – Dnipro – Lviv evacuation train (train Nº 234, departs daily at 16:30) to leave.
[Source: Telegram-channel of Ukrzaliznytsia, in Ukrainian.]
Sumy
- Sumy | Ukrainian Volunteer Service
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Evacuation from Sumy (table, updated daily)
- Application form for Euthyrox in Sumy. If the form is closed, keep an eye on the Telegram channel for updates on receiving applications
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
- In the Sumy city center of social services (Kharkovskaya, 42) you can get clothes and shoes for children of different ages and adults. Availability of things to clarify the phone: 700607, 700606. [Source]
Svitlovodsk
Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Ternopil region
Volunteer Headquarters of NGO «Hromadske Radniki» («Public Advisors»):
- +38 (063) 180 38 83,
- +38 (098) 591 82 86
Hotlines:
- 0631803883
- 0963373870
"Palianica.Info" is an open database of organizations that provide humanitarian and volunteer assistance to the population all over Ukraine. On the project's website you can find more than 950 organizations and initiatives, which are regularly updated (language: Ukrainian);
---
Chats
Telegram chat "Vinnytsia | Ukrainian Volunteer Service", where you can post an announcement, fill out a volunteer form or find a volunteer (language: Ukrainian).
---
Help Centers
- “OdezhiNa — social clothing”: free clothing for everyone in need in Ternopil at the address: ul. 15 Kvitnya, 3. For details and contacts, visit the project's Facebook page (in Ukrainian);
- Ternopil City Social Services Center (8 Lysenko st.) (24/7, tel: 0674611075);
- Science Center (address: 4 Euromaidan Heroes sq., working hours: from 10.00 to 18.00);
- Na pochte. Creative cluster (4 Kopernika st.), temporary shelter, you can charge your phone, drink tea. (Information on the Facebook page);
- Caritas Ternopil (1 Zamonastyrskaya st.) are ready to receive IDPs, provide food
- «Mammoth» restaurant provides shelter, accepts help for the military, makes mats, sleeping bags, etc.;
- Ternopil Youth Center (3 Iosif Slepy st.) accepts visitors from 9:00 to 21:00. Here you can warm up, relax, drink tea, charge your devices and use access to the free Internet; we also collect things for the military;
- The basement of Ukrposhta (6 Kopernika st.) is ready to shelter IDPs and provides food
- Plast (11 Fedkovicha st.) are ready to receive migrants, you can spend the night, eat; they also collect necessary things for IDPs.
Uzhgorod
- “Zakarpattia Volunteers” (website in Ukrainian and English) help Ukrainian combatants, war-affected civilians, as well as children suffering from serious diseases, and children living in orphanages of the Zakarpattia region. The volunteers provide humanitarian aid, psychological support, and help people to adapt. You can find more info on the organization’s Instagram account (in Ukrainian);
- Telegram chat "Uzhgorod | Ukrainian Volunteer Service", where you can post an announcement, fill out a volunteer form or find a volunteer (language: Ukrainian);
- “Owl’s Nest” Help Center: humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons, developing activities for children, psychological training: announcements and registration forms are published on the Facebook page and in the Telegram channel of the Center (in Ukrainian);
- Psychological, social and legal support for internally displaced persons, targeted humanitarian aid from the “Kolping’s Right in Ukraine” organization: contact details are on the organization’s website (in Ukrainian);
- "Palianica.Info" is an open database of organizations that provide humanitarian and volunteer assistance to the population all over Ukraine. On the project's website you can find more than 950 organizations and initiatives, which are regularly updated (language: Ukrainian).
Uman
Kharkiv
Chats and bots
- Telegram chat "Kharkiv | Ukrainian Volunteer Service", where you can post an announcement, fill out a volunteer form or find a volunteer (language: Ukrainian)
- Volunteers Kharkiv
- Telegram bot where you can ask for help
---
Humanitarian aid
- Humanitarian aid to persons with disabilities, elderlies, children up to 16 y.o, help with evacuation from Kharkiv from “Zovta Dopomoga” organization: to ask for help, call 5505 or fill out the form. Details: Instagram, Facebook, website of the organization (in Ukrainian)
- Food packages and targeted humanitarian aid to the internally displaced persons and vulnerable groups of the population from Dolonky-UA and «Intelligentsia» (on Instagram in Ukrainian). To receive help, create and fill out a form based on the sample form and send it to the Instagram personal messages of any organization above
- Help to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Territorial Defense Forces: gear, medical supplies, clothes, and personal care items from the “4.5.0. Kharkiv” organization. To request help from the unit, fill out a form (in Ukrainian)
- Humanitarian aid to the vulnerable groups of population with medications, foodstuffs, hygienic items from the ‘Dopomoha Kharkiv’ volunteer group: project’s Instagram and Facebook pages (in Ukrainian). Applications accepted via the Telegram chat
- ‘Nezlamniy Kharkiv’ volunteer organization: assistance with medicines and food packages for people with disabilities and seniors, humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons from the occupied territories, humanitarian aid to pregnant women and women with children under 3 years. To apply for the assistance, fill out the respective form on the organization’s website (in Ukrainian)
- Humanitarian assistance to victims of war of Kharkov and the Kharkov region from the Vokzal hub: to apply for help, fill out the respective form. For details, visit the hub's Facebook page (in Ukrainian)
- Humanitarian aid to the vulnerable groups of population in Kharkov and the Kharkov region from the Station of Kharkov volunteer initiative: details and contacts on the website and the Facebook page of the initiative (in Ukrainian)
- Targeted humanitarian aid in the Kharkov region from the Red Cross: contacts and an application for help on the website (in Ukrainian)
- Volunteer organization «Peace to Kharkiv». Food, ready meals, medicine, hygiene products. Contacts: Telegram, Instagram
- Map of Nova Poshta branches where you can get humanitarian aid
- Humanitarian assistance from the Jewish centers of Chabad (help is provided to everyone, regardless of nationality and religion) — Kharkiv, 12 Pushkinskaya st., tel: 380577316031
- Addresses of open stores, pharmacies, gas stations (most are open in the morning, it is better to come from 9:00 to 13:00)
- "Palianica.Info" is an open database of organizations that provide humanitarian and volunteer assistance to the population all over Ukraine. On the project's website you can find more than 950 organizations and initiatives, which are regularly updated (language: Ukrainian)
- Humanitarian aid for women from the feminist initiative BILKIS (instagram and facebook)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
---
Health care
- Volunteer and mutual help with medicine in Kharkiv: the Telegram-channel. You can send a request for the necessary medicines using the Telegram-bot (in Russian)
- Medical consultations in Kharkiv
- Online map of open pharmacies, shops and gas stations in Kharkiv
- Hotline for people with diabetes in Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region provides information on where to get insulin: the contact numbers and the current work schedule are indicated on the website of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration (in Ukrainian).
- Rapid Response Unit of the Red Cross. Contact us if you know for sure that there are people under the rubble, search and rescue operations will be carried out with the participation of dogs. Contacts:
- Red Cross RRU Facebook page.
- Facebook page of the cynological department
---
Evacuation
- «Ukraine SOS» – assistance with evacuation from Kharkiv to Western Ukraine and abroad, coordination of transportation and requirements of displaced persons on the road and upon arrival. For details and contact information see the organization's website (languages: Ukrainian, English, Polish)
- Evacuation from Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast to Poland is provided by the organizations Ukrainski Rubezhi (Ukrainian Borders) and Slavutich Transit: you can apply for the evacuation by phone +380988574712 (also in Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal). If you leave Kharkiv or Kharkiv Oblast and can help other citizens to leave, please fill out the form (source: the organization’s website, in Ukrainian)
- Bot for those who need to leave Kharkiv
- Rescue NOW - free evacuation of people from Kharkiv to Dnipro and Poltava, humanitarian aid (Instagram, evacuation request form, tel: +380577259510)
---
Pets
Volunteers in Kharkiv help people who keep animals in homes and shelters with pet supplies (Instagram, in Ukrainian)
Telegram-chat about missing pets in Kharkiv and Kharkiv area: you can post information about lost or found pets and help to reunite them with their owners. (In Ukrainian and Russian)
Kherson
- Free-of-charge evacuation from the Kherson Oblast is provided by the Berehynia Fund: you can apply for it via the form. More details, updates, and the information about resuming the application acceptance are published in the fund’s Facebook group and Telegram channel (in Ukrainian). If you leave Kherson or the Kherson Oblast by private transport, and you can help other people to leave, please fill out the form, — the fund compensates for the evacuation help.
- Kherson | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram chat)
- Kherson Regional State Administration
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
Khmelnitsky
- Food packages and targeted humanitarian aid to the internally displaced persons from Lesia Nikitiuk coordination center (Telegram channel in Ukrainian): to get help, write to Telegram;
- Telegram chat "Khmelnitsky | Ukrainian Volunteer Service", where you can post an announcement, fill out a volunteer form or find a volunteer (language: Ukrainian);
- "Palianica.Info" is an open database of organizations that provide humanitarian and volunteer assistance to the population all over Ukraine. On the project's website you can find more than 950 organizations and initiatives, which are regularly updated (language: Ukrainian);
- Volunteer Headquarters of NGO «Hromadske Radniki» («Public Advisors»):
- +38 (067) 380 15 57,
- +380 (067) 380 17 21,
- +380 (067) 380 28 08.
Cherkasy
- The humanitarian center in Cherkasy helps internally displaced persons with food, clothes, children products, and consultations. The address and contacts are on the center’s Facebook page (in Ukrainian)
- Humanitarian and volunteer aid to vulnerable people and internally displaced persons is arranged by the Centr Gostinnosti organization. The organization’s phone number is +380985129232; the Facebook page (in Ukrainian)
- Cherkasy | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Evacuation from Cherkasy (table)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Chernivtsi
- Chernivtsi | Ukrainian Volunteer Service
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Announcements of evacuation from Chernovtsy (table, updated daily)
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
Chernihiv
Volunteers
- Chernihiv | Ukrainian Volunteer Service (Telegram chat)
- Search for humanitarian and volunteer assistance in all regions of Ukraine
- Humanitarian aid table (compiled by Israeli volunteers)
---
Evacuation
- Evacuation from Chernihiv (Instagram of a verified team of volunteers)
- Evacuation from Chernihiv (table)
---
Medical/humanitarian aid
- Humanitarian assistance to the military and their families, as well as to civilians from the Unified Volunteer Center in Chernihiv: the organization’s Facebook page (in Ukrainian)
- Online map of volunteer hubs and free pharmacies in Chernihiv: the locations contain contacts and details of the assistance provided (in Ukrainian)
Transport
Evacuation and movement around cities
- Daily updated information about the train traffic in Ukraine and abroad, shedule of evacuation routs on the site uz-vezemo.com (in Ukrainian);
- A request for help in moving from point A to point B from the "UkraineNow" initiative (in Ukrainian and English);
- "Sharry" service that helps to look for a ride in the chosen direction (in Ukrainian, English, Russian and Polish);
- "Nam po dorozi", a Telegram-bot that connects Ukrainians with cars and Ukrainians who need to evacuate (in Ukrainian);
- A contact in Telegram for getting volunteer help in evacuation from the "Free Belarus Center" organization;
- Autopark Bolt offers its cars for evacuation in some of the Ukrainian cities (Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Dnipro, Chernihiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv). You can leave a request for using a car via a form (in Ukrainian) or by phone: +380982040707;
- Telegram chats that help to look for transport in Ukraine and abroad (evacuation assistance, commercial transport, passenger and transporter search): "Evacuation Ukraine", "A ride to the west", "Transportation to Poland" (in Ukrainian and Russian);
- Commercial transport on the route Chernivtsi — Ternopil — Lviv — Lublin — Wrocław — Łódź: a group on Viber (in Ukrainian and Russian);
- Evacuation by regions and cities all over Ukraine: table (in Ukrainian and Russian; the table created by volunteers, specified contacts have not been verified for a long time).
Bridges in Kiev
[Information as of 04.04.2022, source] For communication between the left and right banks of Kyiv Pivnichnyi Bridge and Darnytskyi Bridge are open. Pivdennnyi Bridge remains open for public transport. Paton Bridge is blocked, there is no passage.
The city reminds drivers to obey traffic rules and allow ambulances and humanitarian supplies to pass.
Transport in Kyiv
- [Information as at 25.08.2022, Source] Public transport returns to its usual schedule: from today, the subway will run until 22:00 in the mode of transportation, ground transport — until 22:30.
- Please note that subway stations are closed after the last train has departed.
- During the air alert, ground public transport is suspended, as well as traffic on the ground sections of the subway.
- Underground metro stations will operate as a shelter 24 hours a day.
---
Metro
How the subway works in Kyiv: the mode of operation of stations and trains (site).
---
Ground transportation
Regularly updated link with the timetable of ground public transport in Kyiv.
Housing
We would like to point out that although we have checked all the links below, the offers have not been checked by us. These offers are mainly from individuals. Please keep this in mind when asking for help.
- mapahelp.me — a resource for finding help all over the world (housing, shelters, medical aid, food, pet kennels, etc.)+ add your own organization/place on the map;
- Map of temporary accommodation in Ukraine: contact details of territorial communities for internally displaced people, humanitarian centers, free accommodation offered by private individuals in Ukraine and Europe. The map shows border-crossing points (the team of chatbot "Turbotnik" coordinates the information, in Ukrainian);
- Map: free housing offers in Ukraine and Europe (mostly farms, eco-settlements, permaculture centers) + contact information;
- A website for searching free housing in safe cities of Ukraine and abroad (in Ukrainian, Russian and English);
- Temporary housing in Ukraine — website "Pryhystok" (languages: Ukrainian, English, Czech, German, etc.);
- Contacts of urban/rural communities where internally displaced persons can apply for assistance (website, language: Ukrainian);
- You can ask for help or offer help on Ukraine Now platform: transport, temporary accommodation, volunteer help, assistance to animals, evacuation, etc. (languages: Ukrainian, English, French, etc.);
- Telegram chat for finding housing/shelter in Ukraine; to find a home/shelter in Ukraine (language: Ukrainian);
- Telegram channel "SafeHomeUA", where they publish information about housing, evacuations, food and assistance for refugees in Ukraine and abroad (language: Ukrainian);
- Turbotnik chatbot (“One who takes care”). It helps Ukrainian refugees receive temporary housing and necessities in Centers for the Delivery of Administrative Services, now operating as care centers. The chatbot is available 24/7 (in Ukrainian);
- "UA HELP NOW" chatbot for finding help in all the regions of Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
Humanitarian aid
- The Future for Ukraine Foundation helps medical institutions, wounded people, families of IDPs and children affected by the war. To get help, fill out an application at the website (languages: Ukrainian, Polish, English);
- Evacuation, humanitarian aid, legal and psychological support for those affected by the war in Eastern Ukraine: Instagram of "Vostok SOS" organization, the website of the organization (in Ukrainian and English);
- The “Help people” organization provides food, evacuation, temporary accommodation, and psychological support for people affected by the war (in Ukrainian and English);
- Humanitarian aid, psychological and legal consultations, educational classes for children, assistance with employment: SpivDia platform (in Ukrainian and English);
- “Divchata” public organization (NGO "Girls") implements projects to provide humanitarian assistance to children and women affected by the war. They provide food, baby food, diapers for adults, diapers and wet wipes for children, hygiene products for women (website, in Ukrainian and English);
- A map of humanitarian aid services across Ukraine and in other countries (in Ukrainian, English, and Russian);
- Regularly updated map of functioning grocery stores throughout Ukraine, addresses (in Ukrainian);
- Turbotnik chatbot (“One who takes care”). It helps Ukrainian refugees receive temporary housing and necessities in Centers for the Delivery of Administrative Services, now operating as care centers. The chatbot is available 24/7 (in Ukrainian);
- "UA HELP NOW" chatbot for finding help in all the regions of Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
Volunteers/Mutual Help
- Service "Potreba" — find and offer help: temporary accommodation, evacuation, transport, food, clothes, medicines, medical help, animal care, etc. (in Ukrainian);
- Platform “Poryad” for mutual help in Ukraine: on the website, you can offer help or ask for transport, humanitarian, consulting, and other aid (in Ukrainian);
- Platform "J for UA" — support and assistance for citizens of Ukraine affected by war: find and offer help to evacuate, humanitarian aid, medical and psychological consultations, and other advice. The site has contact numbers and application forms (in Ukrainian, English, Hebrew);
- You can ask for help or offer help on Ukraine Now platform: transport, temporary accommodation, volunteer help, assistance to animals, evacuation, etc. (languages: Ukrainian, English, French, etc.);
- Support site "Defense online". You can leave an application to get or provide help, as well as contact a volunteer (in Ukrainian);
- Telegram chat "My Kyiv" on mutual help in Kiev: announcements of mutual help, work, rent, etc. (language: Ukrainian);
- Telegram chat "Ukrainian aid" for searching and offering volunteer help in Ukraine: informational support, transport, humanitarian and psychological aid, and other (languages: Russian, Ukrainian);
- A chatbot "SaveUA" for finding volunteers or offering help in your region (in Ukrainian);
- UA HELP NOW chatbot for finding help in all the regions of Ukraine (in Ukrainian);
- "Stop Russian War" is a chatbot providing information from local residents on the movement and location of equipment, weapons, foot troops, etc. of the invading forces (in Ukrainian);
- The "Eround" application: an interactive map of Ukraine with announcements from people who need help or provide it. Android and iOS.
Refugees
Refugees Memos
Documents to take with you
- Passport or any other ID.
- Documents for any children accompanying you (passports, if any; birth certificates)
- Documents to confirm relationships, such as marriage certificates, birth certificates. Even if your relatives are not traveling with you now, this may be the reason for their relocation and family reunification later.
- Take photos of the essential documents on your phone in case they are lost or stolen.
- Keep tickets and documents confirming your route, such as tickets, refueling receipts, etc.
- If you were in real danger, keep the evidence. Photos on the phone of destroyed or damaged housing, videos of shelling or bombing may be useful
If you do not have these documents (they were lost, they burned, etc.), take any other documents, such as driver's license, military ID, education documents, birth certificates, savings passbooks, utility statements, registration of housing ownership, etc. The more documents you have in your name, the better.
If you lost your passport or ID, you can find it again in “Diia” app. The app is now connected to the population register again. The digital passport has the same legal force as the paper one and can be shown at checkpoints, to the representatives of the military and the police. Find more information on the website (in Ukrainian, Russian, English).
Document with the list of things refugees need to pack for the road (language: Ukrainian).
How not to fall victim to human trafficking
How to protect yourself and not become a victim of human trafficking: a memo for refugees and people in crisis from Feminist Anti-War Resistance: amemo in Russian; amemo in Ukrainian.
Human trafficking aimed at exploitation and illicit profiteering is a grave crime against the person which is widespread across the globe. Anyone can fall victim to human trafficking, however, refugees and displaced persons are particularly vulnerable categories. They were forced to leave their homes, with no livelihood, under stress and desperately searching for a chance to start a new, decent life, provide for their family, overcome an addiction. This vulnerability is shamelessly exploited by criminals, who lure in defenseless people willing to believe the promises of jobs, wages and accommodation.
The situation around Ukrainian refugees is similar to many other emergencies that have caused large migration flows, be it natural or technological disaster. Criminals do not waste a single chance to profit from human misery. In this case, such attempts are particularly cinical and cruel as it concerns women, children and the elderly fleeing from shelling, bombing and mines.
---
How does one prevent such a crime? How to avoid becoming a victim of modern-day slavery when all the dangers are seemingly behind you?
1. First — remember that the risk of falling victim to human trafficking is real.
- Most commonly, recruiters are the first to appear. These are people who may offer one employment. When it comes to young women and girls, they will be approached about working as a dancer, animator or a photo model, a housekeeper or a nanny, a waitress or a secretary in a "good firm". The promised salary for such a "position" is usually extremely high. The victims tend to find themselves in a situation of sexual exploitation.
- Romeo recruiters look for approaches to girls, court them, give gifts, promise to marry, and, having gained trust, and often evoking tender feelings in return, involve the victim in forced prostitution.
- When it comes to the elderly and the disabled, then they may be offered temporary easy work but in reality this turns into forced begging.
- Young people may be offered by recruiters to work on a construction site or on a farm, and the result will be labor exploitation or exploitation in a criminal sector (for example, in the drug industry).
- Recruiters gain the trust of a potential victim by expressing sympathy, promising help with paperwork, travel expenses, food, good wages, access to education for children, and access to medical services for those in need of medical care. Do not trust them!
2. Second — stay vigilant when it comes to seemingly attractive employment and housing offers.
The most common wording that psychologically affects the victim: "The group is almost completely staffed, there are only a few places left"; "Documents can be issued later"; "You should leave immediately, otherwise the vacancy will get away".
Typical signs that you are being deceived:
- No stipulated working conditions (no contract or labor agreement). If there is a contract, you must study it carefully, consult a lawyer, and do not sign if something is unclear.
- You are being convinced that there is no need for a work visa and knowledge of a foreign language is not required (if you are being offered a job abroad). Working on a tourist visa is a gross violation of the law, do not put yourself in the position of an offender. And without knowing the language, it will be difficult for you to defend your rights in a foreign country
- There is no information about the company. Check for information online.
- The promise of high wages in the absence of the necessary qualifications. You can compare the wage with data on the average wage for similar work.
- A one-way paid ticket, (you will have to "work it off"). This creates the situation of debt bondage with fines that will accumulate for made-up reasons.
- Illegal passport confiscation under any premise (for example, for registration)a. Never surrender your documents to anyone.
3. Third — know whom you can contact if trouble came after all and you did find yourself held by force.
- Memorize the phone numbers and the address of your consulate in another country.
- Memorize the phone numbers of the hotlines for victims of human trafficking.
Phone numbers:
1547 (Ukraine)
+7 (800) 550 71 40 (Russia)
+48 22 628 01 20 (Poland)
+1 (888) 373 7888 (the USA)
+372 6147 393 (Estonia)
+370 61691119 (Lithuania)
For more countries see the website of the European Commission.
---
Take copies of your documents and leave them with the people you are close with. Tell them where you are going to work and leave them the contact details of the firm you have signed a contract with. Agree on a code word for your relatives (for a possible phone conversation in the presence of those who are holding you) that will signal to them that you need help.
Be careful in your online contacts. Remember that criminals make full use of the Internet to recruit potential victims, control and blackmail them. Never post sexual photos or videos online as well as personal information – criminals can take advantage of them. Remember that even people close to you might be taking part in human trafficking.
Stay vigilant. It is easier to prevent a crime than fight its consequences.
Your actions if you plan to evacuate
1. Choose how you will travel
- by car; not all routes are safe, there may be traffic jams and blown up roads.
- by train; the safest way but it is not always possible to get on a train due to large numbers of people.
- buses / minibuses; check the carrier's information, especially when you travel with a small group of people. Unfortunately, there are known cases of human trafficking.
2. Choose the point to cross the border (information on queues at border crossing points can be found here).
3. You can use a travel (foreign) passport / an internal passport (any kind) / a birth certificate (for children) to cross the border. If none of these documents are available, you will need to write an application for international protection (a refugee status).
4. Animals may cross without documents.
5. Children may be allowed to cross without their parents.
6. Once you cross the border, you will meet volunteers who are ready to help you (feed you, keep you warm, explain how to find accomodation and get to other cities/countries).
- A memo from the "I support Ukraine" project with information for Ukrainian women trafficked to Russia and the self-proclaimed LPR/DPR: sequence of actions upon arrival, departure from Russia, answers to common questions (languages: Russian, Ukrainian).
Memos for women
- Chat-bot «Safety of women behind the cordon». Here you can find all the important information to keep women safe at the border: embassy addresses, chats for crossing the border, vouchers for free housing, etc.
- Telegram-channel collecting information about crimes against women (in Ukrainian)
- How not to become a victim of human trafficking at the border if you're a woman: memo-1 (website, in Ukrainian), memo-2 (Instagram, in Ukrainian)
- Memo on Twitter for women: how to stay safe at the border, on the road, in another country
Money
Forbes Financial Guide for migrants: what to do with hryvnias and Ukrainian accounts if you went abroad (in Ukrainian and Russian).
From March 25th, 2022, Ukrainians can apply to the branches of banks in Poland (information on specific bank branches will be announced later) to exchange cash - from Hryvnia to Polish zlotys. The exchange rate will be as close as possible to the official one [Source, 22.03.2022].
Information about social payments to refugees and forced migrants from Ukraine in different countries: Telegram channel (in Ukrainian, Russian).
Сheckpoints
Please remember that checkpoints are a hazardous place, first and foremost, for the military. A soldier never knows who is approaching the checkpoint, what intentions the people in the car have, etc.
- Keep your documents where you can quickly reach them. Never keep the documents in women's or chest bags so that the soldier does not think that you are reaching for a grenade. It is better to keep them in the pockets of your outer layer of clothing.
- Hide your mobile phones (a phone is an irritation factor).As soon as you arrive at a checkpoint, put your hands in front of you.
- This is the most important thing to remember. A soldier feels calm when they can see your hands. The driver puts their hands on the steering wheel, the front-seat passenger puts hands on the glove box, and the passengers in the back put hands on the seats in front of them.
- When showing your documents, take the passport carefully, hand it to the soldier and return your hands to their original position
Border crossings
- Information on queues at border crossing points can be found here. The "Countries bordering Ukraine" section has details on border crossings for each country
- Telegram chats for mutual help and exchange of up-to-date information on the Ukraine—Moldova border crossing points: Mamalyha — Criva, Kelmentsi — Larga, Rossoshany — Briceni, Bronnitsa, Sokyriany, Mohyliv-Podilskyi
- Telegram-chats for peer support and information exchange about border crossings between Ukraine and Poland (in Ukrainian): Rava-Ruska — Hrebenne, Shehyni — Medyka,Smilnytsia — Krostsenko, Krakovets — Korczowa, Hrushiv — Budomierz,Ugryniv — Dolhobyczow, Ustyluh — Zosin
- Telegram chats to cooperate and exchange up-to-date information about Ukraine-Slovakia border crossing (in Ukrainian): Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké,Mali Selmentsi – Veľké Slemence, Malyj Bereznyj – Ubľa
Evacuation and transport
General Information
You can evacuate by train / bus / car, see the updated map for safe ways. It also contains information about waiting times at border posts (languages: Ukrainian, English).
In this section, we have collected useful links and contacts which can help you to leave an unsafe location by car or get to the departure point of a train or a bus.
Evacuation
Moving in Ukraine
Ukrainian Railways have created a new resource for passengers. It contains all the relevant information (about evacuation flights, international routes, railway stations, queues at border crossing points with EU countries)
- Service for placing requests for evacuations and humanitarian transfers (Ukrainian / English)
- A Telegram bot that helps find and offer help with evacuation (housing, transport)
- A resource for finding help with transfers, housing abroad, etc.
- Service to find fellow travelers (in Ukrainian)
- A resource for finding and offering help, transfers, and housing both for people remaining in Ukraine and those trying to leave
- Telegram-chat for finding traveling companions and transport in Ukraine (in Ukrainian and Russian)
- More information is collected in the section "Evacuation and movement around cities"
Leaving from particular cities
- “Help People” organization helps to leave Kharkiv region, Donetsk region, Luhansk region, and Kherson region: you can register for evacuation on the website (in Ukrainian, English);
- Evacuation from the controlled territories of Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast is organized by the charity fund “Yangoli Spasinnya” (Angels of Salvation). To register, you need to fill out the form (in Ukrainian);
- Volunteer help with evacuation from Chernihiv: information about trips is published onInstagram. You can support the volunteer team on the website;
- A website with contacts of the volunteers in Bucha, Irpin, Gostomel, Vorzel;
- Evacuation from the frontline areas of the Donetsk oblast by the Vostok SOS organization: safe exit to evacuation trains, assistance with evacuation of people with disabilities: website (languages: Ukrainian, Russian). Evacuation announcements are published on the organization’s Instagram page (in Ukrainian);
- Dopomoga Zakarpattia is a website with the information about evacuation from Zakarpattia Oblast;
- A telegram chat that helps to get a ride from Kyiv;
- Telegram chat that help to find companions to the train stations in Obolon area.
Moving from Ukraine abroad
- Evacuation of children, families, people with disabilities, help with temporary accommodation in Ukraine and abroad, and humanitarian aid is provided by the charity fund “Save Ukraine”. Hotline: 0800333129, the website (in Ukrainian, English);
- Help from the Fond vilnih i nebajduzhih (Fund of the Free and Caring) with going abroad and organization of temporary accommodation in Europe for women, children, and elderly people: to apply for assistance, you should fill out the form (in Ukrainian). More information is on the fund’s Facebook post and website (in Ukrainian);
- Interactive map with information about the current conditions of entry to world countries for citizens of Ukraine from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (in Ukrainian);
- Service for placing requests for evacuations and humanitarian transfers (Ukrainian / English);
- Chat-bot for leaving Ukraine and getting assistance abroad;
- Application form for evacuation and transport support from Project Dynamo (Ukrainian / English);
- Application form for getting support from Rubikus.HelpUA: evacuation from Ukraine and search of temporary housing in Europe (Russian / Ukrainian / English);
- Google form for getting emergency help in relocating from Ukraine;
- Evacuation to the Polish border from the volunteer group "Israel4Ukraine": a form to apply for help on the website (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English);
- A group on Facebook about transfer Ukraine – Poland;
- Telegram channel with the information about evacuation to Poland;
- TG-channel «Help for those leaving abroad» with useful information and contacts by country;
- Volunteer assistance in evacuation from Ukraine to Finland: Facebook group (in Finnish; automatic Facebook translator into Russian).
Trains
«Ukrzaliznytsia» launched a new website for passengers — uz-vezemo.com
The website contains up-to-date operative information about
- evacuation trains;
- international routes;
- railway stations;
- queues at border crossings with EU countries.
Information about Przemyśl — Prague route (departure three times a week).
At the moment, the evacuation trains "Ukrzaliznytsia" continue to operate in one direction: on the way Pokrovsk - Dnipro - Lviv [schedule in the source; in Ukrainian].
Local authorities urge the residents of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and the nearest settlements to evacuate. You can leave for safe areas by train through Kharkiv. Trains depart to Kharkiv from Lozova station 6 times a day: 05:10, 07:00, 12:44, 15:43, 17:40 and 19:40 (to Biliaevka).
You can leave Kharkiv for:
- Uzhgorod (train Nº 45, departs daily at 13:10);
- Ivano-Frankivsk (train Nº 15, departs at 16:35 on even dates);
- Kyiv (train Nº 725, departs daily at 08:30 and train Nº 723, departs daily at 13:34);
- Odesa (from 29.07.: train Nº 287, departs at 07:58 on odd dates).
At Lozova station, you can take the Kharkiv – Odesa train (Nº 287, from 29.07.): the train from Kharkiv arrives at the station at 10:24. [Source: Telegram-channel of Ukrzaliznytsia, in Ukrainian.]
Air Transport
The WizzAir airline offers citizens of Ukraine free flights throughout Europe: to book a ticket for the period from September 15 to December 8, visit the website. To take advantage of the promotional offer, enter the number of the passport of Ukraine.
Buses
- MEDiBUS — evacuation buses from Ukraine to Chisinau, equipped for the comfortable transfer of people with disabilities (beds, doctor escort, first aid on the road available). Details and application form for evacuation on the website (in Ukrainian);
- Evacuation buses on route Kyiv — Lviv — Polish border from the Free Belarus Center initiative. If you need to be evacuated (the bus is available for women, children, and men), fill this form. If you have filled this form previously, but weren’t evacuated, fill it again. The volunteers will contact you and will give you information on the place of departure and other details;
- BUSFOR — website, on which bus tickets can be bought (large selection of bus routes);
- List of cities, from which international buses depart (in English);
- Evacuation buses from Lviv to Germany and Austria (Website in English)
- Bus arrangement from Kyiv, Kharkiv and Poltava. To receive help with evacuation, fill this form (volunteers from Israel);
- The spreadsheet with the list of evacuation bus routes and schedules from Kyiv to Western Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Moldova provided by organizations from Israel (updated regularly).
Information for men
Instruction: how to leave Ukraine for a man with children
If a man has any exemptions (please see below) that allow traveling abroad, they must go to any military registration and enlistment office to obtain a travel (exit) permit. This is the document to show at the border.
While martial law is in effect in Ukraine, male citizens aged 18 to 60 may not leave the country. [Source, 27.02.2022]
The following categories of men are exempt and may cross the border:
- those who have a certificate of draft deferment/exemption and a notification of enrolment in the special military register;
- those who have a certificate from a military medical board proving they are unfit for military service.
In addition to that, the restrictions do not apply to persons who:
- have three or more children under 18 years in their care;
- are raising a child or children younger than 18 years on their own;
- those with disabilities (regardless of the group, with a supporting document);
- those accompanying people with disabilities of groups I and II, children with disabilities, orphans. In addition, men are allowed to leave Ukraine on their own to care for people who are abroad and need constant care. For information on when this is possible and what documents are required to cross the border, see Rules for crossing the state border (p.2.1, paragraph 12-13, in Ukrainian);
- those permanently residing abroad who have a corresponding mark in their passport documents;
- those who are applicants for professional higher or higher education abroad (the following documents are required: a student card or student visa; translated and notarized documents on studying at a foreign university; a document on granting a deferment of military service; a certificate for traveling abroad issued by a local recruitment center and social support);
- those who are authorized representatives of a monitoring group, created in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Social Policy, and sent to monitor the conditions of stay of children outside Ukraine.
Travel abroad is also allowed for the following categories of men liable for military service:
- drivers involved in the transportation of medical and humanitarian aid for the needs of the Armed Forces or the population of Ukraine (with permission to travel abroad from the Ministry of Infrastructure or the regional military administration) and drivers of companies that have a transport license (on a vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tons);
- employees of railway transport enterprises (the decision to travel abroad is made by the Ministry of Infrastructure or regional military administrations);
- athletes and coaches of the national teams of Ukraine, as well as specialists providing them with medical, organizational and other support (documents from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine are required for departure, confirming participation in the event abroad).
[Source: website of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, in Ukrainian]
Starting September 1, legal entities and entrepreneurs will be able to apply for a permit to travel abroad on business trips up to 7 days long. This can be done with “єВідрядження” service on “Дiя” portal. See the website of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine for more details (only in Ukrainian).
---
Notes
A man with a white card stating «transferred to the reserves» will not be released from the country during wartime.
Foreign nationals, including men aged 18 to 60, may leave the territory of Ukraine without any restrictions.
Evacuation with kids
General information
- Make sure the children have notes/tags with their parents' details, such as aphone number, residential address, etc. You can sew tags on the inside of children’s clothes, put them into pockets or write on the body with waterproof markers. Remember that children get lost. And it is extremely difficult to find their parents quickly if there is no information about them
- Your child should have such notes/tags even if they seem old enough and/or have their own phone number. When in shock, anyone can forget anything.
- Do not sew any tags with the child's name and surname where they can be seen easily. Children automatically trust any person who calls them by their first name.
- Unaccompanied minors may enter many countries on their own (check the relevant country page for more information). If no relatives meet such children in the destination country, they should tell this at the border to people in border guard uniforms. In this case, social services staff will take care of the children.
- Teach children what they should do if they get lost: keep standing in the place where they last saw the people they are traveling with. If there is a person in uniform nearby (a policeman, a train conductor, a border guard), a child can ask them for help. If there is a shop, a cafe, or a bank, they can go there and ask for help at the cash register or from a security guard.
How do you talk to children about the war
- Use the wording that is easy to understand for kids. If there are no words to explain it clearly to them, introduce new words. Try using games to find out what they mean.
- Talk about feelings / emotions. This is the way to make children feel they have support. You can talk about feelings using questions: «How does it feel? What do you think about it?»
- Let the child live out their emotions without stifling them. While playing, imagine what can be done in one situation or other.
- Answer their questions, even if they are unethical. Rejecting or silencing these questions, we give room for wild assumptions and worries.
- Just be there: support and accept the child’s feelings and emotions.
Evacuating with children: useful links
- TG-bot where you can get support in case of a missing child / offer help in finding (launched with the support of the Office of the President of Ukraine, UNICEF, and Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy)
- Interactive map with relevant data on filling stations, pharmacies, shelters, aid stations, vehicle service stations, drinking water sources, and post offices in Ukraine
- Service of Child Search and Rescue: website, FB
- Report a missing child abroad / view the list of missing children: website, FB
- All-Ukrainian Union «Search for Missing Children»
- Instruction: how to leave Ukraine for a man with children
Fleeing with Pets
How to behave in an emergency
- If caught by danger or a danger warning outdoors, take your pet into your arms or on a short leash.
- Hide in a safe place if possible.
- If you have an opportunity to distract your pet for a while, use it by all means. Give them something to lick, chew or tear.
- If you cannot get out of your hiding place for a long time, help your pet fall asleep. Sleeping helps both pets and their owners to cope with the stress. Remember that it is easier to fall asleep when you are warm, so try lying down next to your pet to keep both of you warm and get a good night's sleep.
- Some animals find it easier to calm down with thick wrapping. For example, you can wrap a scarf tightly around your pet's torso, leaving their legs free
- Petting can also help an animal to calm down. Try to use long and gentle strokes with mild pressure. Watch your pet's reaction and stop as soon as they pull away – it means they are uncomfortable.
Instructions for first aid to an animal on thewebsite: sequence of actions in case of loss of consciousness, bleeding, fracture, burn (in Ukrainian).
Evacuating with a pet: preparation
- Keep your pet on a leash or keep the leash within easy reach.
- Make sure that your pet gear is secure, check all the fastenings and clips (seehow to make a simple harness from scratch, in English).
- Choose reflective leashes, collars, carriers, or harnesses whenever you can.
- Bring cats and smaller dogs in pet carriers.
- Your pet should wear an ID tag on a separate string at all times. If you do not have an ID tag, make it from anything you can find or write down your details on pet gear or even on your dog’s/cat’s belly using a waterproof marker.
Recommendations for helping cats and dogs: creating comfort, transportation, feeding, adaptation (in Russian).
Evacuating with a pet: what you should bring along
- Plenty of food, for instance, if you plan to get to an EU country in a day, bring pet rations for at least 3 days
- bottled water
- bowls, a pad and/or a blanket for your pet
- cleaning supplies in case you won’t be able to take your pet out for a walk
- a muzzle (for larger dogs)
- your pet’s documents (if any)
- parasite control items
- first-aid kit for pets
Pet boarding and support
- Petsi — a phone application (app) that helps people search for missing animals (English) - you will need to get your pet registered, preferably before your departure;
- What you should bring along — lists — documents, things. (Russian, Ukrainian) (1+1)
- What you should have in the first-aid kit for your pet — a list;
- Support group for people with animals abroad a Facebook group — accommodation, transportation, reception, assistance for Ukrainians from abroad etc. (English, Russian);
- A 5 min video «How to make a simple harness from scratch» (English).
Animal rescue organizations in Kyiv region
- «Save Animals» organization, search, rescue, help for animals in war-torn cities. Contacts: website, Telegram (languages: Ukrainian, Russian);
- Application Form to save an animal in Kyiv or oblast from «ZooPatrul» organization. Contacts: Facebook, Instagram (languages: Ukrainian);
- «Hatul Madan» shelter saves animals left without owners in Kyiv oblast. Helps owners find their pets. Contacts: Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, hatulmadan.ukr@gmail.com, +380 99 752 0627 (languages: Ukrainian, Russian).
General rules for EU countries
On May 7, the EU countries abolished the simplified import regime for animals, which was in effect after the start of a full-scale invasion by Russia. [Source, in Ukrainian]
Under the new rules for dogs, cats, ferrets (companion animals), the animal must:
- be correctly identified by microchip;
- vaccinated against rabies and have a valid vaccination;
- pass the test for the level of antibodies against rabies by titration;
- have a valid passport issued in one of the EU countries or a health certificate that complies with the model established by EU legislation.
If there is no document, you need to notify the competent person, fill out an application and go through a simplified procedure for crossing the border. In Poland, for example, your pet will be tagged and vaccinated against rabies free of charge.
You can check the rules for crossing the border with pets on an interactive map from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Carefully study the regulations in the destination country, preferably from several sources - they may differ and update.
Updated entry rules for pet animals from Ukraine
Правила-1 (PETA) - общие для ЕС и по странам (англ.яз.). Правила-2 (Welttierschutz) - по странам (рус., укр., англ., нем., польск., румын., слов.яз.). Правила-3 (IFAW) - информация по странам и помощь волонтеров на границе (укр.яз.)
International and temporary protection
General information
Who is this section for?
For those fleeing war with Russia or who have a well-founded fear of being persecuted on grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group in their country.
---
Before obtaining protection, the EU allows Ukrainians to stay in its territory without a visa for 90 days.
Then there are several options for legalisation: obtaining temporary protection status (which has more advantages, created especially for those fleeing the war in Ukraine) and obtaining refugee status.
Important: temporary protection status is different from refugee status. See the table (adapted for printing) for the differences.
---
Useful Resources
- Facebook page «Community Help for Ukraine» with a list of links to international organizations providing assistance to Ukrainians.
- Information resource "4refugeers.info" for refugees and forced migrants from Ukraine by country: conditions of entry, sequence of procedures for obtaining asylum / temporary protection status, links to organizations providing assistance to refugees in different countries (in Ukrainian).
- ‘Varenik’: a tool to compare conditions of stay in different countries for Ukrainian refugees: comparative information on entry, legalization, assistance provided, access to services (in Russian). The tool was created by the Rubicus organization (website in Russian, Ukrainian, English).
The citizens of Ukraine affected by the Russian aggression may lodge an application to The European Court of Human Rights to record the war crimes with the option to receive compensation for damage suffered. See the website (in Ukrainian) for details and procedures on how to file a lawsuit. The applications shall be filed within 4 months from the moment of violation of human rights, but no later than January 16, 2023. [Official source in Ukrainian].
Temporary protection (simplified procedure)
Receiving Temporary Protection
Information on obtaining Temporary Protection can be found on the EU website. Explanation of the EU directive on temporary protection for those fleeing war with Russia.
Who is eligible
- Ukrainian citizens who were permanently residing in Ukraine before this date;
- Citizens of third countries or stateless persons who, before this date, held refugee status or equivalent national protection in Ukraine;
- Family members of persons indicated in the first two bullet points, if they were located in Ukraine or resided there until 24 February 2022;
- Stateless persons or citizens of third countries residing in Ukraine who have a valid permanent residence permit in Ukraine and who are unable to safely return to their own country.
What is provided
- Simplified border control procedures and more flexible conditions on entry (for example if someone does not have a foreign passport or if their passport is not biometric);
- The right to reside in the EU;
- Access to the EU job market;
- Access to medical services in the EU;
- Access to social services in the EU.
Duration
1 year (from 03.03.2022) with a 6 month automatic extension if the situation does not improve, and then, if necessary, one more extension of the same duration. Following that, protected status can be extended by the Council of the European Union by one more year – so, three years in total.
International protection
Receiving international protection or refugee status
This section will be useful for those who cannot use the simplified system for obtaining temporary protection or who want to obtain refugee status.
The procedure has 4 steps:
- Applying for protection;
- Interview;
- Evidence assessment (based on information you provide and the information gathered about you, the Department will determine whether your fear of persecution or the risk of serious harm to you if you return is objectively justified);
- Providing the decision (the outcome can be a decision to: provide a refugee status, provide extra protection, refusal to provide a refugee status and extra protection.
What are your actions?
- Apply for protection (you can apply for international protection at the border or on the territory of the state at the border service department. After submitting the application, you must register with the social and medical assistance system within 2 days);
- Pass an interview. (it is conducted to clarify all the important circumstances of the case. After answering formal questions, you will be asked to detail the reasons why you left the country and explain why you are afraid of returning);
- After the interview, you will be offered accommodation in a refugee camp (which you can opt out of) where meals and humanitarian aid are provided. You may be given a minimum cash allowance until a decision is made on your case. It is important to note that in different European countries the conditions for receiving and granting asylum are not the same;
- While your case is processed, you will not be allowed to travel outside the host country, but you will be able to move within its borders;
- After receiving an asylum decision, you will be able to travel outside the country on the same conditions as all other citizens of the country. Your stay in other countries must not exceed a total of 90 days out of 180;
- Upon returning to your home country (visiting the embassy of your country), the refugee status is canceled, as this means that you no longer need protection and can be in the territory of your state.
---
Dublin agreement applies inside EU. What is this? Brief.
Dublin agreement is a part of EU law. It defines which country should process your asylum seeker application.
Most of the time migrants are supposed to apply for asylum status in the country, where they cross the EU border for the first time. There are some exceptions from this rule, described below.
Dublin procedure has two goals:
- ensure that your asylum seeker application is forwarded to government officials of the country obliged to process it
- make sure that you did not apply for asylum status in multiple countries to extend your stay inside one of those countries
Which countries signed the agreement?
32 states: Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Bulgaria (BG), Hungary (HU), Germany (DE), Greece (EL), Denmark (DK), Ireland (IE), Italy (IT), Spain ( ES), Cyprus (CY), Latvia (LV), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LX), Malta (MT), Netherlands (NL), Poland (PL), Portugal (PT), Romania (RO), Slovakia ( SK), Slovenia (SI), United Kingdom (UK), Finland (FI), France (FR), Croatia (HR), Czech Republic (CZ), Sweden (SE), Estonia (EE) and 4 states, associated” with the Dublin Regulation (Norway (NO), Iceland (IS), Switzerland (CH) and Liechtenstein (LI)) .
What can affect the decision on which country will process your applications?
- Your family member (spouse of a child younger than 18) received protection in another country or is actively seeking for protection in another country
(If you wish to be reunited with this family member, you must notify the Office of Migration as soon as possible. At the same time, you and your family member must express your consent to be reunited in writing, and this consent must be communicated to the Office of Migration).
- You have visa or permission to remain in another member state
- Your fingerprints were processed for “Eurodac” system in another member state (for example, to apply for Schengen Visa)
- There is evidence that you remain or have already passed through another member country.
You can also reunite in the same country with your mother, father, child, brother or sister, if all of the following is true:
- They legally reside in one of the Dublin agreement countries
- some of you is pregnant or have a newborn baby, or some of you is seriously sick, have long-term severe health condition or elderly
- One of you depend on the support of another who can supply such support
How long does it take for your application to be forwarded to another country?
- 2 months based on your fingerprints
- 3 months based on another criteria (time is measured from the moment of application)
If you do not agree with the decision to transfer you to another country, you can file an administrative complaint with the court within 20 days from the date of delivery of the decision of the Migration Board to you.
During this procedure, you can ask for legal assistance and, if necessary, linguistic support. You are entitled to this assistance free of charge if you cannot cover the cost of it.
What happens with your personal data?
The authorities of the Dublin countries may share the data you provide to them during the Dublin procedure for the sole purpose of fulfilling their obligations under the Dublin Regulation and under the Eurodac Regulation. You can request that the data collected in your case, including the data in the Eurodac system, be read to you, corrected if it is inaccurate or deleted if it is processed unlawfully.
What rights do you have after applying for protection?
Eligibility for ADA benefits. This right is enjoyed by all applicants, including those whose case is being considered under the Dublin procedure. The benefit ceases from the moment of transfer to the country responsible for the asylum application.
Asylum seekers can contact the Medical Service Centers (PASS) located in hospitals. Treatment and medicines are provided free of charge. There are also free dental, eye and psychological services provided by associations or maternal and child health services.
Applicants are eligible for CMU's universal health insurance as soon as their asylum application is registered. This insurance allows the applicant to receive all medical and hospital services free of charge for himself, his spouse and children.
An administrative (postal) address (domiciliation) is also provided, which enables them to receive mail. This is a very important moment for all applicants, as all information from the authorities responsible for receiving asylum seekers will be sent to this address.
Accommodation around the world
Maps
- I CAN HELP HOST — a world map that shows the locations where people are ready to provide free accommodation to refugees from Ukraine. The site has offers from both the individuals who care and organizations/hotels/hostels
- mapahelp.me — up to date map to find help in Europe (housing, healthcare, food, pet boarding services, etc.)
- Map: free housing offers in Ukraine and Europe (mostly farms, eco-settlements, permaculture centres) + contact information
Websites
- Assistance with temporary housing in Europe, free transfer to the place of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees who are in Poland and want to leave it from the “Open Dialog” Foundation. To ask for help, you need to fill out a form (in Ukrainian, Polish, English).
- Host4Ukraine — a website in English with worldwide accommodation offers for the Ukrainian refugees. Register on the site to reply to an offer or place a request for help
- Here you can complete forms for both housing search or offer to accommodate (in English/Ukrainian)
- Assistance in finding housing abroad from the UkraineNow initiative (languages: Ukrainian, English)
- Ukrainetakeshelter.com — service in English to find/offer housing for refugees from Ukraine
- Hospitality Helps initiative helps to find free temporary accommodation for those who’ve been forced to leave Ukraine. Complete this form on the site to access the database and get help
- Unterkunft Ukraine — a non-profit alliance that helps Ukrainians to find an overnight shelter or accommodation. Most housing offers are in Germany, however, the site covers the entire Europe
- Free overnight stay in the EU (Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, etc.) from the German Alliance of Homeowners
- Portal for searching for housing in Europe, USA, Canada: the website connects users needing help with those who are ready to provide it
- Service to search for roommates to rent housing abroad together (language: Russian)
- A website for searching free housing in safe cities of Ukraine and abroad (in Ukrainian, Russian and English)
- A volunteer project’s website accepting requests for accommodation in different countries from people who left Ukraine (in Ukrainian, English and other languages)
- Hotels and apartments in Europe with discounts for refugees in a special section on booking.com (in Ukrainian, Russian, English and other languages)
- Couchsurfing now provides free access and unlimited messages for people from Ukraine (in English, Russian, Polish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, German)
- A platform for connecting people who are seeking and offering help in the forms of shelter, food, other supplies and transportation across the world (in Ukrainian, Russian and English)
- Website with free housing options around the world. Registration is required. (available in Ukrainian, Russian, English, Polish, German etc.)
- All refugees and asylum seekers looking for accommodation may ask for help by contacting the UN Refugee Agency. The help will be provided in cooperation with Airbnb.org. People fleeing Ukraine in need of temporary housing can contact IOM atprykhystok@iom.int. Anyone who is interested in supporting this initiative can go toAirbnb.org to get involved, including by offering free or discounted stays or donating.
Information by country
Countries bordering Ukraine
Poland
General information
*The most safe and trustworthy way of relocation.
Full information on legalization in Poland at the moment.
Answers to frequently asked questions about entry and stay in Poland.
Rules for accepting refugees in sign language (Instagram).
---
What everyone should know about:
- All the covid restrictions have been lifted for Ukrainian refugees.
- Any identity document will do for entry. Visa is not required.
- People crossing the Polish-Ukrainian border due to the war are not obliged to undergo entry quarantine.
- Mask wearing is not obligatory in Poland starting from 28.03.22, with the exception of healthcare facilities and pharmacies. Quarantine requirements have also been suspended. Source
- Starting March 25, Ukrainians can exchange hryvnia cash for zloty at select Polish banks. The exchange rate will be as close as possible to the official rate. [Source]
---
- If you want to get help provided by the Polish government upon arrival in Poland do NOT write in your destination when filling in the documents! Because after that you will be redirected to a help point, and then to the place of residence. How the housing system works (residence): the state provides systematic transportation from the border to the reception point. There, authorities direct you to the place of residence. The state also provides transportation from the point to the place of residence. Source, Source 2. Go to one of the reception points, there you will be provided with food, opportunity to rest and necessary information.
- Those without passports enter the “Сonsent of the commander of the Border Guard” stay procedure, which implies 15 days of legal stay. During this time you can apply for a stay in Poland (yes, military personnel will accept applications even without passports) or for international protection.
- On the basis of Article 32 of the Act on foreign nationals all refugees from Ukraine are allowed to enter Poland.
---
Interactive map of help in Poland (reception and information points, refugee camps, pharmacies, hospitals, humanitarian aid, etc.)
Information site for Ukrainians moving to Poland: entry, security, documents, resources helping to find accommodation and employment, education, legal information and other (in Ukrainian, Polish, English, Russian).
- The EU has activated temporary protection for people from Ukraine fleeing the war launched by Russia. The EU Council voted in favor of this at a meeting in Brussels on Friday, 4 March. The decision has already been published in the Official Journal of the European Union and it took effect immediately. Ukrainian citizens will be able to receive protection on the territory of these countries for a three-year period (in total). The status will be issued under a simplified procedure. For more details
- 13.03. Poland adopts a law on assistance to Ukrainian refugees. The law will apply retroactively from 24.02.22. It applies to Ukrainian citizens, their spouses not holding Ukrainian citizenship who came to Poland after 24.02, as well as to children of Ukrainian citizens who were born in Poland after 24.02.
Border security
ATTENTION! Girls and young women with children! Volunteers in Poland report mass cases of women fleeing alone or with children going missing at railway stations. Criminals pretend to be volunteers and take women’s documents away under the pretext of "paperwork" — these are kidnappings with the purpose of human trafficking. The volunteers urge you to remain vigilant and take precautions:
- Never give your passport to anyone else (you may show it, but do not give it away, no matter what — a real volunteer will not ask you to give away your passport). If they try to take your passport by force, shout, call for help.
- Try to stick to other refugees until you reach the aid point. Do not travel around Europe alone and do not get off the train or the bus without necessity before arriving at your destination.
- Trust only proven volunteers, not everyone who calls themselves one. If you do not know where to go and what to do next, do not talk to passers-by, but rather go to police officers or other officials.
- Spread this information and warn other women about the danger.
- If you have witnessed a dangerous incident, report it using this form.
Entry with pets
At the border crossing the cats, dogs, and ferrets shall have:
- a microchip;
- valid vaccination against rabies administered after microchipping;
- EU veterinary passport issued by the veterinary authority of the State Consumer Service (Derzhprodspozhyvsluzhba).
There is an exemption from submitting the required documents when importing other types of pets however the state border officers decide on a case-by-case basis on permitting the pet to be admitted into the country. ( Source 1, in Ukrainian, official source 2 in Ukrainian).
Transfer to Poland
There is no gas at the border Ukraine – Poland!
Fill up your fuel tank 150-200 kilometers before the border.
- Ukranian citizens have been granted the right to use TLK and IC trains, as well as Warsaw public transport, for free until 25th March. To do that, you need to have your passport or another document confirming your citizenship with you. The source
- The website for coordination between passengers and drivers at the border Poland – Ukraine. Both the refugees who need transport and the volunteers who are ready to drive them to Polish cities can register and leave a request there.
- Help with transfer from the Polish border and personal assistance in Poland (temporary accommodation, physiological help, legal aid) for refugees from Ukraine from the Belarusian Youth Hub and the BY Help initiative: form (in Belarusian), source: website (in Belarusian)
- The volunteer telegram chat to seek transport from the border and to Polish cities (language: Russian).
- Ukranian citizens in Poland can apply for a free ticket for Flixbus buses (boarding at Przemyśl and Rzeszow). You can also get a free ticket from a company employee at the bus station in Przemyśl. They will be wearing a green jacket with the Flixbus logo. To receive an online-ticket, you need to send a request via the email: service@flixbus.com.ua, stating "UKRAINE" as the subject of your email. In the email itself, you need to write:
- departure city: Przemyśl or Rzeszów,
- arrival city,
- your name and surname,
- your phone number,
- the email address where you wish to receive the ticket.
- For children with cancer and their families: transportation from the border, accommodation and full provision (including medical assistance) on Polish territory. An official organization. If you are already on the border or in Poland: +491736117126, Marianna. If you are still in Ukraine and are looking for transport: +380675972499, Yarina, or +491796902854, Yulia.
- FB-groups to find a travel companion and Ukraine-Poland transportation help: group 1, group 2 (in Polish, Ukrainian)
Refugee centres
.Suchodolski Palace Communal Culture and Tourism Center, ul. Parkowa 5, 22-175, Dorohusk – housing estate
2.Border Culture and Recreation Center, ul. Spółdzielcza 8, 22 - 540, Dołhobyczów
3.School Complex in Horodło, ul. Piłsudskiego 58, 22 - 523, Horodło
4.Primary School in Lubycza Królewska (back of the sports hall), ul. Jana III Sobieskiego 5, 22 - 680, Lubycza Królewska
5.Common room, Korczowa 155 37-552 Korczowa
6.Sports Centre - Medyka - Medyka 285, 37-732, Medyka (they definitely need help)
7.Primary School in Krowica Sama 183, 37-625, Krowica Sama
8.Former Primary School in Łodyna, Łodyna 41, 38-700, Ustrzyki Dolne
9.Multicultural Centre in Warsaw, Jagiellońska 57, 03-301, Warsaw
10.Reception centre in Bydgoszcz: ul. Zygmunta Augusta 20. Close to the railway station Bydgoszcz Główna.
All these refugee reception centres on the same map.
Legalization
- Those without passports enter the “Сonsent of the commander of the Border Guard” stay procedure, which implies 15 days of legal stay. During this time you can apply for a stay in Poland (yes, military personnel will accept applications even without passports) or for international protection.
- In Poland you can apply for a U.S. visa without a passport (English).
International protection:
- Belarusians and Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine can apply for international protection at the Polish border.
- About the purpose of international protection in Poland – here
- A mini reminder about the process of applying for international protection – here
- International protection granting procedure step by step – here.
Legalization of Ukrainian refugees who DO NOT have Ukrainian citizenship
- On the basis of Article 32 of the Act on foreign nationals all refugees from Ukraine are allowed to enter Poland.
- Temporary protection is valid throughout the EU. The procedure for confirming the status of temporary protection has not yet been determined.
If you do not have a visa and any reason to apply for international protection, but you want to wait until the law is introduced, be sure to send the documents for a residence permit by mail to the nearest UW (Urząd Wojewódzki), no later than the 15th day of your stay in Poland.
- Here you can find instructions for filling in.
- Try to find a point that suits you.
- For example, in article 187: point 6 is suitable for married couples, point 7 is suitable for those with children, point 8 is suitable for everyone else.
- Grounds for a residence permit application are outlined in article 187
- You can also look for them in article 186
Transport in Poland and within the EU
Beginning on June 1 free travel policy changed in Poland for the forced migrants from Ukraine. Free trips on RKR Intercity railroad transport extend to the stations on the Eastern border of Poland and are available to those, who left Ukraine after February 24, 2022, including children and teens up to 18 y.o., women, men over 60 y.o., men with disabilities or limited mobility (when supported by documents). See details on the government website (in Ukrainian).
Free public transportation in Warsaw for the forced migrants from Ukraine is canceled: from June 1, 2022, public transportation service is provided on general terms. [Source FB-page of the Transportation Service in Ukrainian, and Polish].
Currently, the cheapest air tickets often have the layout in London. Although transfer passengers do not need to have an English visa, it is important to remember that in transit flights are only the flights where
- All tickets have to be purchased from the same airline;
- As one ticket;
- You are not going to move from one airport to the other;
- You can’t claim your baggage in London;
*Ryanair is not a transit air company (most likely other low-costers aren’t as well).
- Telegram bot with information about discounts for LOT Polish Airlines tickets for Ukrainians (language: English).
Accommodation
- “Alight” organization helps Ukrainian refugees in Poland and can provide them with temporary accommodation for free (up to 30 days). If you need their help, fill in the form on their website (in Ukrainian or English) or visit one of their offices (you can find their addresses in Poland via the link);
- Help from Ukrainski Dom in Warsaw with temporary accommodation in Poland. To get help, leave a request by filling out the form (in Ukrainian); website of the organization (in Polish and Ukrainian);
- Temporary housing search help from Warsaw volunteers: fill in a form (in Polish).
You can find houses for rent at the following websites:
- otodom.pl (in Polish),
- nieruchomosci (in Polish, has a webpage in Ukrainian),
- domiportal (in Polish),
- obido (in Polish),
- and here are some classified ads websites (including real estate ads): olx, gratka (in Polish).
Pay attention: many sites have a section “for Ukraine / help Ukraine” where people offer sleeping accommodation and household items on the cheap or for free.
Healthcare
Starting with Feb 24, medical care for the refugees from Ukraine is free. More information here
- Online platform for scheduling free medical appointments with Ukrainian- and Russian-speaking doctors
- Online platform “Medics for Ukraine”: list of medical doctors and clinics with varied specializations providing medical treatment in Poland to people displaced by the war (in Ukrainian).
- Free emergency medical aid for people coming from Ukraine from the LUXMED hospital network: details by phone: 22 45 87 007 (Mon-Fri from 9:00 to 17:00) and by e-mail ua.kontakt@luxmed. pl
- Free medical assistance to the refugees from Ukraine: Centrum Medyczne Damiana
- Free physician and pediatrician visits, a laboratory tests package, and psychological counseling by phone. Information line 22 566 22 20
- Krakow: free medical care and medications for the refugees from Ukraine, independent of their citizenship, including free medicines for chronic illnesses such as insulin, methotrexate, automatic syringes, and other medical supplies.
- Assistance to families with children with spinal muscular amyotrophy (SMA): 22 120 1750; Anna Dzik: +48 (22) 120 17 50
- Information about medical expenses covering for refugees from Ukraine
- Assistance for families with children with autism in Łódź. If the child has an autism spectrum disorder, email ukraina@jim.org for consultation or assistance.
- Free medical assistance in Bydgoszcz: +48 885 559 543
- Free hotline for people with epilepsy: medical consultations, first aid, prescription for necessary medicines by phone: +48503924756 - the line is available in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish [Source, languages: Ukrainian, Polish].
- Free medical online consultations for patients from Ukraine and Poland: psychological support, qualified assistance in the areas of pediatrics, women's health, neurology, dermatology, cardiology from the TeleHelp Ukraine project (languages: Ukrainian, English).
- Legal, informational and psychological assistance, consultations on education in Poland for political migrants from Belarus and Ukrainian refugees in Poland from the Belarusian Solidarity Center: details and contacts on the organization’s Facebook page (in Russian);
- Psychological care for students from Ukraine;
- Psychological care in Krakow;
- Psychological helpline +48 459 595 252 (open 9:00-21:00 in Ukrainian, Russian and English);
- Urgent psychological helpline: +48 669 981 038;
- Psychological help and social education foundation: +48 733 563 311;
- Center of psychological care for Ukrainians;
- Free psychological and medical care (remote): tellme.com.ua;
- Free psychological care in Bydgoszcz;
- Mutual aid group (rules prohibit xenophobia, sexism, racism, homophobia, and transphobia);
- Free psychological assistance for forced migrants from Ukraine to Poland: you can choose a specialist and sign up for a consultation on thewebsite (languages: Polish, Ukrainian, English);
- Counseling, phycological and informational help for children with autism spectrum disorders who were forced to relocate from Ukraine, from “Synapsis organization: see details and contacts on the website (in Polish);
- Psychological support for a reduced cost (79zl/session) in Russian and Ukrainian for refugees from Ukraine: to choose a specialist and register for a consultation, see the website (in Polish);
- Free online psychological help and counseling for refugees from Ukraine, provided by Ukrainian-speaking professionals from the Institute of Psychological Health: register on the website (in Polish and Ukrainian).
Legal assistance
- Legal, informational and psychological assistance, consultations on education in Poland for political migrants from Belarus and Ukrainian refugees in Poland from the Belarusian Solidarity Center: details and contacts on the organization’s Facebook page (in Russian);
- Free legal advice from Warsaw Bar Association; Polish/Ukrainian. Infoline: 800-088-544 Mon-Fri (13:00-17:00);
- Legal information for Ukrainian citizens seeking entry and stay in Poland:UA,PL,RU;
- Memo on legal questions in Poland (in Russian);
- Legal information line (Mon - Fri, 10 am - 6 pm): to make an appointment, call 688 205 117 or use Telegram;
- Free legal assistance in Poland,Facebook group;
- Free legal assistance in Szczecin;
- Free legal assistance in Bydgoszcz.
Humanitarian aid
- Interactive map of help in Poland (reception and information points, refugee camps, pharmacies, hospitals, humanitarian aid, etc.)
- Map of the humanitarian aid organizations and refugee camps
- Humanitarian and volunteer assistance from the DAR initiative to forced migrants from Ukraine and political refugees from Belarus: organization'swebsite; Telegram channel (languages: Russian, Belarusian).
- Resources with temporary accommodation, transport, humanitarian, medical, volunteer, legal, veterinary, and other aid in different countries on the platform World With Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
- Interactive map with offers of various assistance for Ukrainian refugees in Europe (Poland, Czechia, Slovakia) from organizations and volunteers: legal, medical and psychological assistance, transportation, translation, etc. (offers are published in English, Polish, Czech).
- The Temporary Rapid Assistant (TeRA) financial assistance program for the most vulnerable groups of people from Ukraine from the Polish Humanitarian Action: details and contacts on the website (in English, Ukrainian, Polish). You can apply for support by appointment in the cities of Przemysl, Bartoszyce, Olsztyn, Koszalin, Stargrad.
Help by city
Warsaw:
- Humanitarian aid in Warsaw
- Humanitarian aid warehouse "Pobach." Address: Warsaw, St. Alexander Church, located at Plac Trzech Krzyży (look for the door sign biblioteka parafialna)
- Addresses for help centers and humanitarian aid distribution stations in Warsaw; information about legalization and temporary accommodation search on the Warsaw municipal administration website (in Polish and Ukrainian)
- “Ptach” humanitarian help center in Warsaw: help for refugees from Ukraine with temporary accommodation and basic necessities, medical and psychological assistance, free transportation to other European countries: website (in Ukrainian, Polish, and English); address: Al. Katowicka, 62 (Ptak Warsaw Expo).
Other cities:
- Humanitarian aid Bialystok
- Humanitarian aid in Kutno
- Humanitarian aid and accommodation in Krakow - pomoc@u-work.pl (email)
- Informational portal for refugees from Ukraine in Katowice: addresses of help centers, hotlines phone numbers and contacts, an option to fill a help request form, legal, health care, and children integration information, etc. (in English and Polish).
Mobile connection
- Cellphone operator Play offers 120 free minutes to call Ukrainian numbers (Kyivstar, Vodaphone, Lifecell) and 10 Gb to use in Poland. For current and future clients, the cost of calling Ukraine is reduced by 80%.Source.
- Promotion from Plus: Ukrainian citizens can buy a smartphone for 1 zloty (one device per person; documents confirming Ukrainian citizenship are required; the promotion is valid throughout Poland as soon as the devices are in stock; store addresses are available on the website, in Russian). You can also use promotional packages of minutes
Mutual help chats
- Facebook-group: peer support in Poland for refugees from Ukraine (in Polish and Ukrainian).
- Closed FB group from the Multicultural Center for help requests from/offers to the forced migrants from Ukraine in Poland (in Polish).
- Telegram chats for refugees from Ukraine in Poland: mutual help, up-to-date information, ask a question: chat 1, chat 2 (in Ukrainian and Russian)
- Helping Ukrainians in Poland
- Telegram channels providing information for refugees from Ukraine: regularization of stay, accommodation, employment, transport, sources of assistance, current news: channel Добрi Сусiди, channel Help.Ukraine (in Ukrainian, Russian).
- The “Martynka” project (Instagram, in Ukrainian and English) helps forced migrants who have become victims of violence or human trafficking. The organization provides security advice, offers legal and psychological support, accommodation in a shelter in Krakow for survivors of violence. You can ask for help through the Telegram bot (in Ukrainian).
- Feminoteka – help women suffering from any type of abuse. Hotline for Ukrainian woman +48 888 88 79 88 (Monday through Friday from14.00 to 17.00) - in Russian and Ukrainian; website (in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, English).
- Free gynecological care for expecting women forced to relocate from Ukraine at The Princess Anna Mazowiecka Clinical Hospital in Warsaw: see details and contacts on the hospital website (the page is in Ukrainian, the website is in Polish and English).
- Free medical help for women refugees from Ukraine in Warsaw
- Free medical assistance for pregnant women from Ukraine in Krakow.
- Free medical assistance to pregnant women and women with newborn children (refugee status required). More information here.
- Abortion without borders provides information and financial support to people in Poland who need an abortion.
- Abortion Support Network provides advice, financial assistance and accommodation to those who need an abortion (languages: English, Polish, Spanish, Maltese) and who are located in Poland, Romania, Hungary, France, Spain, Czech Republic, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Malta, Gibraltar.
- Aborcyjny Dreamteam provides information about abortion in Poland in Ukrainian, Russian and English.
- Information about maternity care and preparation for childbirth in Poland, legal and medical recommendations for pregnant women on the website of the “Rodzić po Ludzku” Foundation (in Ukrainian).
- Hotline of the "Center for Women's Rights" in Ukrainian for displaced women from Ukraine in Poland: psychological and legal assistance, advice on available social, housing and other support by phone: +48800107777; Opening hours: Mon-Fri from 15:00 to 20:00. Website of the organization (in Polish).
Children
- Facebook group with announcements of free educational, integration, entertainment events in Warsaw for children from Ukraine (languages: Russian, Ukrainian, Polish).
- List of sports groups in Warsaw offering free classes for children from Ukraine, on the website (in Polish).
- Free Drop-in Center for the refugee children from Ukraine in the center of inclusive education Gramotej in Warsaw. (Hoża 86 /302). Every day starting from Monday, Feb 28.02, you can bring your children and leave them in the center from 9 am to 1 pm. Phones: 882678 753, 731363728.Source
LGBTQ+
- Assistance to LBGTQ+ people
- Support for Ukrainian LBGTQ+ people in Poland
- Fb group of the foundation that assists LGBTQ+ people with safe temporary housing and information (in English)
- Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ community in Warsaw (Fb group)
- “Gruppa Stonewall” (Stonewall group) organization: assistance with temporary accommodation for LGBTQ+ people from Ukraine, +0048661830894 (in English/Polish)
- Organization offering shelter to the LGBTQ+ refugees from Ukraine, in English/Polish
- Organization, offering temporary housing, psychological and other kinds of support to LGBTQ+ refugees from Ukraine, in Ukrainian/Polish/English
- Support for LGBTQ+ people from Ukraine in Poland by the city (Warsaw, Poznan, Krakow, Wroclaw, Lublin, Olsztyn, Slubice and others). English / Polish / Ukrainian / Russian;
- Fundusz dla Odmiany (Facebook,Instagram) offers transportation from the border, safe shelters, and information for the LGBTQ+ refugees: kontakt@dlaodmiany.org.pl; English.
- FundacjaTrans-Fuzja (Facebook) offers shelter for the LGBTQ+ refugees from Ukraine: kontakt@transfuzja.org; English / Polish.
- Federacja Znaki Równości (Facebook) from Krakow offers help with accommodation seeking, legal advice, information about transitioning: kontakt@znakirownosci.org.pl; Polish / English;
- Kultura Równości (Facebook) from Wroclaw offers help with accommodation, legal advice, food, clothes: kontakt@kulturarownosci.org; Polish / English.
- Piwnica Labiryntu (Facebook,Instagram) in Lublin helps with accommodation, food, and clothes. Polish / English.
- Application form for accommodation fromGrupa-stonewall.pl. English/ Ukrainian/ Polish;
- Accommodation applicationform, Polish/ Ukrainian/ French/ English.
Warsaw
- Facebook group of a Russian-speaking LGBTQIA+ community in Warsaw;
- Offline mutual support group for people affected by the war in Ukraine. During the group’s meetings xenophobia, sexism, racism, homophobia, and transphobia are not permitted. The main language of the group is Russian, the possibility of meetings in English is being considered.
- Lambda Warszawa (Facebook) offers temporary accommodation, psychological and other help to LGBTQ+ refugees from Ukraine: warszawa@lambdawarszawa.org; Ukrainian / Polish / English.
For trans people
- Assostance and information from theAlternative initiative on hormone therapy, medical services, and more: ewelk@icloud.com.
- Information on hormonal therapy options for trans people; Ukrainian;
People with chronic illnesses / disabilities
- Rules for accepting refugees in sign language
Assistance to people with oncological diseases
- Assistance to people with oncological diseases
- Free assistance to people with cancer, radiotherapy for Ukrainian citizens. Coordinator: Olga, +48690963221 Amethyst (centrum-radioterapii.pl)
- Free consultation and the possibility of treatment in Luxmed Oncology institutions. The National Health Fund funds treatment under the same conditions as for Polish citizens. Contacts: +48224698365 / +48224698334 / +48601310244 tomasz.sarosiek@tomaszsarosiek.pl or Piotr Poraj Poleski in messenger
For Belarusian citizens
- Belarusians on the territory of Ukraine can apply for international protection at the Polish border.
- Belarusian citizens staying on the territory of Poland by a valid humanitarian visa or those who until 24 February 2022 legally resided on the territory of Ukraine and left for Poland can apply for a humanitarian or national visa [Official source, in Polish]. Details of the visa application procedure are discussed in the Free Belarus Center Telegram channel.
- From 09 July 2022 citizens of Belarus on the basis of a humanitarian visa can apply for a residence permit in Poland for a period of three years. Detailed instructions for registration from lawyers of Free Belarus Center: Instagram post (in Russian).
- Citizens of Belarus who were legally (with a residence permit) on the territory of Ukraine at the time of February 24, 2022 and left for the EU due to the outbreak of the war are automatically subject to the EU Council Decision on granting this category temporary protection.
- The attitude towards Belarusian citizens remains the same, and all delays in administrative procedures happen only due to the heavy workload of the Department for Foreign Affairs. Details here.
- Free legal and information assistance for Belarusian citizens on crossing the Polish-Belarusian border, legalization, obtaining the status of temporary protection, work permits in Poland, etc. from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights by phone: +48603175232 (also by Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp) and by email: refugees@hfhr.pl [Source on the website of the Helsinki Committee, in Russian].
- Legal, informational and psychological assistance, consultations on education in Poland for political migrants from Belarus and Ukrainian refugees in Poland from the Belarusian Solidarity Center: details and contacts on the organization’s Facebook page (in Russian).
- Chat bot of consulting assistance to Belarusians in Poland: paperwork, legalization, rights, available assistance (in Belarusian).
- Humanitarian and volunteer assistance from the DAR initiative to forced migrants from Ukraine and political refugees from Belarus: organization'swebsite; Telegram channel (languages: Russian, Belarusian).
- Belarusians in Poland chat
Pets
- A website with help offers to the pets of refugees from Ukraine in Poland: temporary boarding, veterinarian care, and transportation (in Polish).
- Veterinary consultations
- Temporary boarding for pets
- Dog trainers' help
- Help for pets
- Help for pets in Poland
- Help with boarding and walking pets in Poland (language: Polish)
- Telegram channel “Animals of Ukraine-Poland”: reception and accommodation of animals (contacts: phone +48661961109, Telegram).
- A temporary hospital for animals in Przemyśl that can organize their transfer to shelters in Europe. Website with contact info in Polish.Information about free veterinary care for displaced pets from Ukraine in different countries is published in the Telegram-channel Vetinfo (in Russian):
- post about available assistance in Poland. To navigate through the information, browse the posts in the channel and use the post search. Mutual aid groups for Ukrainians with animals in different countries can be found on Facebook and Telegram.
Language learning
- Free Polish language classes for beginners for foreigners in Warsaw from the “Ocalenie” fund: detail and registration on the site (in Polish, Ukrainian, English, and Russian
- Scheduled free Polish language classes for the migrants: to register for a course, you should watch the new information on the site (in Polish, Russian, and English)
- List of free online/offline opportunities to learn Polish for refugees from Ukraine on the site (in Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish)
Employment
- Counseling and informational help with employment for the forced migrants from Ukraine: Green Line platform (in Ukrainian). Legal information, job search resources, consultation, free CV translation into Polish, etc.
- You can use the Central Job Database on your own without visiting «Urząd pracy». A special ePraca mobile application (Android and iOS) is also available for searching.
- Also many retail chains offer jobs, for example, Makro Cash & Carry, Polomarket, Żabka, Lidl and Biedronka.
- They are actively looking for translators: such announcements were posted by «Nasz Wybór» and the Ukrainian House, as well as Centrum Nauki Kopernik and the Warsaw City Hall - for the Warsaw City Contact Center 19115.
- You can also look for job on the State Employment Service Portal. They provide information about the labor market and advice for those who are looking for a job. A section is available for foreigners, who wish to legally work in Poland. The portal is available in Ukrainian.
- The site pracuj.pl has a list of jobs for refugees from Ukraine. There you will find all vacancies in which employers indicated that they are open for employment of Ukrainian citizens.
- Many other services may not have such special marks for Ukrainians, but you should still look for offers for them by entering keywords: for example, “język ukraiński” or “work” in Cyrillic. For example, on olx.pl, praca.pl, pl.jooble.org
- Also in Warsaw there is a large shortage of warehouse and production workers, as well as technical staff.
- Creative industry jobs (design, architecture, etc.) in Poland for the forced migrants from Ukraine; see the site (in Polish); a job search application form may also be filled out.
- Job offers, temporary accommodation offers, help with transportation, etc. in Poland for the forced migrants from Ukraine on the «Pomocni Ludzie» platform (in Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, English, and German).
- FB groups for a job search or job offers in Poland for the forced migrants from Ukraine: group 1, group 2 (in Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian).FB group for nail technicians from Ukraine in Poland: job search and mutual support (in Polish, Ukrainian)
- Free individual consultations on employment in Poland for women from Ukraine from the “Open” fund (Poznan): to register, fill out the form; see the FB page of the organization for details (in Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish)
- Journalism: Senior Public Information Coordinator. The main functions / responsibilities can be found in the document at the link.
- Corporate jobs for Ukrainians in Poland (Facebook group)
- Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs: work and housing for refugees
- How and where to look for a job in Poland. Useful websites, applications and recommendations. More details at the link
- A list of sites for job search in Poland - source
- Indeed - a site for searching for vacancies in the cities of Poland
- The international investment company Bank of New York Mellon offers vacancies in Wroclaw, Poland, for candidates with different work experience, who speaks English at least at B2 level.
Information resources
- Infoline for refugees in Poland: +48477217575. Open from 9:00 to 15:00, from Monday to Friday, except holidays;
- A website with information for Ukrainian refugees in Poland: resources to obtain medical and legal help, help with temporary accommodation, information about education, jobs, transport, finance, etc. (in Ukrainian and Polish);
- Information resource for Ukrainians in Poland: current news, advice regarding adjustment to life in Poland, forthcoming events, etc (in Ukrainian, Polish, Russian);
- Information site for Ukrainians moving to Poland: entry, security, documents, resources helping to find accommodation and employment, education, legal information and other (in Ukrainian, Polish, English, Russian);
- Interactive map of help in Poland (reception and information points, refugee camps, pharmacies, hospitals, humanitarian aid, etc.);
- A booklet in Ukrainian with information about Poland (What to do after crossing the border, transport, medical care, pets, refugee status, schools, work, psychological counseling, information by major cities);
- Information project United for Ukraine for Ukrainian refugees – detailed information about immigration, legal advice, health, employment, financial and social assistance available in different countries (in Ukrainian, Russian, English). The site allows you to submit a request for temporary accommodation and legal advice;
- Legal, informational and psychological assistance, consultations on education in Poland for political migrants from Belarus and Ukrainian refugees in Poland from the Belarusian Solidarity Center: details and contacts on the organization’s Facebook page (in Russian).
Romania
General information
FAQ on entering Romania and staying there (in Ukrainian, Russian, English, and Romanian)
Those entering from Ukraine can take a free train from any town on the border to any town in Romania with the documents received at the border.
CFR Călători also provide free transportation.
- Information from the UN on entering Romania from Ukraine (in English and Ukrainian).
- Article in MC.today with the information, useful advice and contacts for refugees in Romania (languages: Ukrainian, Russian).
- A PDF guide on entering and staying in Romania that includes contact information of the local NGO’s and companies offering free assistance (in Ukrainian).
- Contact info for the Embassy of Ukraine in Romania: Bucharest, Bdul Aviatorilor 24, Sector 1. Phone: +40-212-30-36-60, emb_ro@mfa.gov.ua
- A form for requesting help in Ukrainian (transfers, housing, food, medical help, etc..)
Border crossings
- Porubne – Siret the coordinates: 47.988433, 26.060907 Phone number: +380 372 585 396
- Dyakovo – Halmeu the coordinates: 47.998066, 23.001606 Phone number: +38 03 13 32 10 55
- Dyakivtsy – Racovăț (Rakovets). Open for crossing on foot and by transport (including buses), except for trucks; works around the clock. [Source 1] [Source 2]
- Krasnoilsk – Vicovu de Sus. Open for crossing on foot and by transport (up to 3.5 tons), except for trucks; working hours from 08:00 to 20:00. [Source 1] [Source 2]
- Solotvino – Sighetu-Marmatiei. Crossing by car only. (up to 3.5 ton; no more than 9 passenger seats, including the driver. 24/7 crossing. [Source]
- Orlivka – Isakcha. Paid ferry over Dunay river. Tariffs and Schedule. The driver and children of 12 yo and younger don’t pay for the ticket. All types of vehicles (moto, passenger, cargo (TIR), buses, for all passenger and foot crossing passengers. It began working on a regular schedule from March 10. [Source 1] [Source 2]
Real time tracking of waiting time at the border crossings with Romania can be found here.
Refugee centres
Romanian National Council for Refugees hotline: +40730073170
Ukrainian citizens who would like to apply for a refugee status in Romania should contact the Regional Centers for Housing and Procedures for Asylum Seekers in the following locations:
- Bucharest Municipality, str. Vasile Stolnicul, nr. 15, bl. 13, sector 2, Phone number: 021/2408427; e-mail: bucuresti.igi@mai.gov.ro
- Galați Municipality, Str. Săvinești nr.2, Galați, județul Galaţi, Phone number: 0236/323878; e-mail: galati.igi@mai.gov.ro
- Giurgiu Municipality, Bulevardul 1907, Giurgiu, județul Giurgiu, Phone number: 0256/421240; e-mail: timisoara.igi@mai.gov.ro
- Timișoara Municipality, Str. Armoniei nr.33, Timișoara, judetul Timiș, Phone number: 0256/421240; e-mail: timisoara.igi@mai.gov.ro
- Rădăuți Municipality, Str. Perilor nr.2, Rădăuți, județul Suceava, Телефон: 0230/564462; 0230/564463; e-mail: radauti.igi@mai.gov.ro
- Satu mare, Maramureș, str. Cetății nr.1A, Phone number: 0262/280005; e-mail: maramures.igi@mai.gov.ro.
Transport
WizzAir provides Ukrainian citizens with free flights from Romania
Transfers on Ukraine-Romania border
Car transfers from the customs: +40 724 003 696
People arriving from Ukraine to Romania can get a free FlixBus ticket. The boarding takes place in Suceava and Tulcea. To get a free online ticket:
- Go to website FlixBus;
- Click the chat box in the bottom right corner;
- Enter your name, surname, e-mail;
- Select the "Voucher" category and any subcategory;
- A chat conversation with a consultant who will help you to book a free ticket will start.
For more information on getting free tickets from FlixBus: post on Facebook.
Accommodation
- A platform for Ukrainian refugees to search for accommodation in Romania (in Ukrainian, Russian, English, and Romanian).
- Help with housing and financial aid for Ukrainian artists (film, performing arts, research, music, etc.): agacor.association@gmail.com
Healthcare
Citizens of Ukraine arriving in Romania because of the war are entitled to free medical care. Details on the government website (in Ukrainian).
- Free medical help (instructions in Ukrainian are under the Romanian text)
- A Facebook group of a Romanian Medical Center that is offering free medical assistance
- Free medical consultations in Ukrainian for displaced people from Ukraine in Romania from the Telios Medical Center by phone: 0040373787805, details on the website (languages: Ukrainian, English, Romanian).
- Free medical aid for Ukrainians in Orada from the Lavinia Davidescu clinic: details and contacts for applying on the organization's Facebook page (languages: Romanian, English, Ukrainian).
Humanitarian aid
- Free meals for refugees in Bucharest: a list of venues (in Romanian)
Mutual help chats
- A platform from a private volunteering initiative providing support in Romania, including meals and accommodation (in Ukrainian, Russian, English, and other languages).
- Contact information for Solidarity volunteer group
- Volunteer map: meals, housing, etc.
- A list of NGO’s, companies, and individuals providing aid
- Helping Ukrainians in Timișoara, a Facebook group
- Telegram groups for helping Ukrainians in Romania can be found here, here+ a Facebook help group for those escaping to Romania from Ukraine (in Russian and Romanian)
- A Facebook group of Russian speakers in Romania
- Assistance with over-the-phone translation Ukrainian/Russian to Romanian: +40734213538
- Consultations for refugees on employment in Romania (in English).
- Facebook group of Ukrainian refugees in Maramures County: mutual assistance, information support, networking and shared experiences, questions asked and answered (in Ukrainian, Romanian, Russian).
- Telegram channels providing information for refugees from Ukraine: regularization of stay, accommodation, employment, transport, sources of assistance, current news: channel Добрi Сусiди, channel Help.Ukraine (in Ukrainian, Russian).
- Information project United for Ukraine for Ukrainian refugees – detailed information about immigration, legal advice, health, employment, financial and social assistance available in different countries (in Ukrainian, Russian, English). The site allows you to submit a request for temporary accommodation and legal advice.
- Telegram chat for Ukrainian refugees in Romania: mutual assistance, exchange of experiences and communications (in Russian, Ukrainian).
Children
Unaccompanied underage individuals may also seek asylum. Refugee status and additional protections are provided for an unlimited time period. The Romanian government provides the applicant with a temporary ID. Please find detailed information at this link (in Romanian).
Ukrainian schools in Romania: full-time and distance education for children of refugees according to curriculums approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. List of cities where Ukrainian schools are open, details and contacts on the project website (languages: Ukrainian, Romanian, English).
Pets
- The rules for importing animals from Ukraine have been simplified: the owners can bring their pets without documents, vaccination records, and microchips. The form can be filled out on the spot. There is a rule that no more than 5 pets (dogs/cats) per person may be brought in.
- PETA partner in Romania offers free vaccination of dogs and cats as well as veterinarian help, lab work, and providing the animals with enough food. Please contact eduxanima@yahoo.com
- A group of volunteers on Facebook that provides free kenneling and treatment of animals in their shelter.
- Information about free veterinary care for displaced pets from Ukraine in different countries is published in the Telegram-channel Vetinfo (in Russian): post about available assistance in Romania. To navigate through the information, browse the posts in the channel and use the post search. Mutual aid groups for Ukrainians with animals in different countries can be found on Facebook and Telegram.
- Pet boarding in Poland: you can view the offers of temporary placement of pets and leave a request for assistance in animal shelter on the “UAPomoc.PL” website (in Ukrainian, Polish, English);
For Belarusian or Russian citizens
The citizens of Belarus and Russia who want to return home may fly out of Romania to Serbia, and then on to Russia. AirSerbia continues flying from Belgrade to Moscow. Russian and Belarus citizens leaving Ukraine or Moldova and entering Romania with the intent to transit, do not require a visa or a biometric passport. They do not need to be quarantined.
Any individual regardless of citizenship may ask for asylum in Romania. The applications are processed according to the national legislation. Additional information can be obtained from the General Inspectorate for Immigration.
Employment
Vacancies for forced migrants from Ukraine to Romania on thewebsite (languages: English, Romanian).
Slovakia
General information
Slovakia has granted Ukrainian citizens fleeing from war temporary asylum from March 1st to December 31st 2022. Entry into Slovakia is granted to all citizens.
For more information about entry into Slovakia (including the situation at border crossing points), the conditions of stay and assistance for refugees fleeing Ukraine, see the websites of humanitarian organisations Human Rights League and Mareena (they provide legal advice and integration assistance for refugees in Slovakia).
Additionally, answers to frequently asked questions related to transport to Slovakia can be found on the official Slovak Government website or on the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Affairs homepage.
FAQ document from Human Rights League about international protection and political asylum (in Russian)
Entry
- Entry is permitted for those who hold a biometric passport or, in its absence, an internal Ukrainian passport. Other identity documents (including expired documents) are also acceptable.
- COVID tests and passenger locator forms are not required for entry.
- Holders of a valid biometric passport can legally stay in Slovakia for 90 days.
- Belarusian nationals entering Slovakia from Ukraine without visas, residence permits, permanent residency status or citizenship are allowed free movement within the EU. They have been granted 90 days from the date of entry to legalise their stay in any EU country.
- Passengers with Ukrainian passports or identity documents are exempt from train fares in Slovakia.
- Ukrainian citizens are permitted by the veterinary service to transport accompanying pets non-commercially, even if they do not comply with the current regulations. However, a form must be filled out (in English, Ukrainian, or Slovak) and the animal must be reported to the local veterinary clinic of the EU destination country.
Telegram chats to cooperate and exchange up-to-date information about Ukraine-Slovakia border crossing (in Ukrainian): Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké, Mali Selmentsi – Veľké Slemence, Malyj Bereznyj – Ubľa.
Transport
- Transfer Slovakia–Czech Republic (volunteer drivers organisation);
- Search for transport from Ukraine;
- Czech railways operates humanitarian trains from the Slovak-Ukrainian border to the Czech Republic.
Accommodation
- Request help with temporary accommodation in Slovakia at Help Centers assisting refugees from Ukraine: see the website (in Ukrainian) for Help Centers addresses.
- Help with a search for temporary accommodation for refugees from Ukraine in Slovakia provided by the SME SPOLU volunteer group: to request help fill out the form (Source: the website of the organization: in Ukrainian, Slovakian, and English)
- FB group "Accomodation for refugees in Slovakia"
- Map with help points to Ukrainians
Healthcare
- "Health Line for Ukraine": free medical consultations for displaced persons from Ukraine in Slovakia, tel. +421221025075 (7:00 – 19:00), details on the website (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, Slovak).
- Crisis line of People in Danger and counselling - 0800 500 888 (or by e-mail ukrajina@ipcko.sk), every day 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Mental Health League Helpline “Nezábudka” - 0800 222 450, every day 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
- Psychological, humanitarian, informational assistance and assistance with integration from the "Človek v ohrození" organization to forced migrants from Ukraine in Slovakia: details and contacts on thewebsite (languages: Slovak, English).
Humanitarian aid
- Slovak Red Cross;
- Map with help points to Ukrainians
- Psychological, humanitarian, informational assistance and assistance with integration from the "Človek v ohrození" organization to forced migrants from Ukraine in Slovakia: details and contacts on the website (languages: Slovak, English).
- Information about support from mobile operators
- Interactive map with offers of various assistance for Ukrainian refugees in Europe (Poland, Czechia, Slovakia) from organizations and volunteers: legal, medical and psychological assistance, transportation, translation, etc. (offers are published in English, Polish, Czech).
Mutual help chats
- UkraineSlovakiaSOS chat bot (receive or provide volunteer aid);
- Group for Ukrainian and Russian speakers on FB Russian-Slovakia / Ukrainian-Slovakia / Russian-speaking Slovakia;
- Community service aid group (English/Slovak/Ukrainian) Who Will Help Ukraine;
- Ukrainians in Slovakia TG-chat (Ukrainian/Russian);
- TG-channels SloVestnik / Novosti Slovakia (financial aid institutions, psychological aid, application forms for aid etc);
- TG-channel Help Nitra and FB group. Help from a Russian-speaking group of volunteers: finding housing, registering with the police, applying for social benefits, accompanying as interpreters. This group also organized a warehouse (address: ŠD Zobor - Dražovská cesta 2) with humanitarian aid (clothing, food, household chemicals, bedding, children's toys and strollers, etc.).
- FB-groups: Ukranians in Slovakia, Union of ukranians in Slovakia, Donate for refugees, Slovakia
- Information on available assistance in Slovakia, announcements of events: “Ukrainians in Slovakia” Telegram channel (in Ukrainian).
LGBTQ+
- Free temporary accommodation in a shelter in Bratislava, consultations on temporary protection in Slovakia for LGBT+ people from Ukraine from the organization "Gender Stream" (Instagram, languages: Ukrainian, English), application form for accommodation (languages: Ukrainian, English);
- PRIZMA offers help to the LGBT+ refugees from Ukraine: transportation from the border, temporary accommodation, psychological help, information for transgender people etc. Ukrainian / English / Slovak.
People with chronic illnesses / disabilities
- List of important contacts for people with special needs
- A webpage with information on help for refugees with oncological diseases. To get help, you need to fill a form on the website (languages: Ukranian, English, Slovak)
Work and studies
- Online school for refugee children (volunteering opportunity);
- FB group for employment (Russian/Ukrainian).
- FB group for work in Slovakia and Europe
Useful contacts of official institutions
- Slovak Ministry of the Interior (ladislav.chabrecek@minv.sk; telephone: +4212961050730, +421905607843);
- Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (vladimir.simonak@mzv.sk; telephone: +421259783080, +421918660332);
- +421918366968 — Information line for Ukrainians;
- UN migration department hotline in Slovakia: 00421 5263 0023 (calls from abroad), 0850 211 478 (calls from Slovakia)
Information resources
- Slovak Migration Centre; English/Russian/Slovak;
- Migration and refugee legal advice from the Human Rights League (in English). To receive a consultation, fill out the form;
- Information on legalization, legal, financial and legal issues of staying in Slovakia, current news for Ukrainian refugees: Telegram channel (in Russian, Ukrainian).
- An article with information and contacts for refugees in Slovakia
- Cultural events, psychological trainings for people from Ukraine, developmental and leisure activities for children in the Ukrainian-Slovak House in Bratislava from the SME SPOLU organization: announcements are published in the Facebook group of the initiative (language: Ukrainian).
Entry
You can enter the Republic of Moldova with an ID (if you have no passport). Covid-19 test results are not required. Minor children may cross the border with either their Birth Certificate, National Registration Identity Card, or Passport. Vehicles may enter the Republic of Moldova without any “Green Card” insurance provided that it is purchased within 24 hours of entry.
The border into Ukraine may be crossed with Ukrainian National Passport with a registration of residence in Ukraine only. You also may cross the border with Moldova with online electronic documents from the “Diia” app — according to a source at The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (language: Ebglish).
You may ask for Political Asylum at any border crossing checkpoint with Moldova, at any police station, or an office of the Bureau for Migration. A verbal communication is enough to ask for asylum.
The employees of the government entity where you asked for asylum shall help you to fill the asylum request form. For more information you can call the Law Center at +373 60574848, +373 68828180 or call the Bureau for Migration and Asylum of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova at 080001527.
24/7 Hotlines at Diplomatic Representations in Ukraine:
- Kiev: +380683842016,почта: email: kiev@mfa.gov.md
- Odessa: +38099242083, email: odesa@mfa.gov.md
Contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova free of charge (including calling from abroad) at any location in Moldova at +37322232002; +373222010 47, or via email at call.center@mfa.gov.md
Temporary housing hotlines in the towns of Trans-Dniester for the Ukrainian refugees:
Tiraspol +37353391277, +37353393501, Bendery +373552251 80, Slobodzeya +37355725141, Grigoriopol +37321032078, Duboksary +37321535980, Kamenka +37321621422.
- Telegram chats for mutual assistance and exchange of up-to-date information on the crossing points of the Ukrainian—Moldovan border: Mamalyga — Kriva, Kelmentsy — Larga, Rososhany - Brichany, Bronnitsa, Sokiriany, Mogilev-Podolsky (language: Ebglish).
Entry with pets
Refugees from Ukraine may enter Moldova with their pets even if they have no veterinarian certificates or a vet passport. For details see here and here (in Russian, English, Ukrainian).
Border crossing
- Checkpoint "Mayaky-Udobne - Palanka;
- Checkpoint Mamalyha - Kryva;
- Checkpoint near Odessa:"Starokozache - Tudora;
- Checkpoint Kchurhan-Porvomays'k (it has a tent town (article in Russian), 200 beds; for those crossing the border by foot there is a shuttle van from Pervomaysk to the railway station in Tiraspol (cost rub20/$1.5) running about every 45 min. At the railway station you can take a shuttle van to Kishineve (cost rub 50/$3). Currency exchange office is in Sherif across the bus station in Pervomaysk Otaci Customs MD-UA.
Transfer to Moldova
ANTA provides transport for Ukrainian refugees (website in Ukrainian).
Transport
The national network of EV Point charging Stations provides assistance with charging cars. Russian Facebook company post (language: Russian).
Housing
The Ministry of Internal Affairs created temporary centers in Palanka and Oknitse. The temporary centers provide basic humanitarian, legal, and food assistance. The centers accommodate refugees for 72 hours. The refugees also receive food packages and hygiene kits. Representatives of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum present to help with documentations. Medical personnel and Social workers are also helping there.
- Housing for refugees (website in Russian);
- Housing for refugees 2 (Instagram post in Ukrainian);
- Help to Ukrainian refugees. Logistics and housing (website in Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian);
- Website for refugees living with Moldovan citizens and Moldovan citizens hosting refugees: registration in the system to receive assistance from local authorities, government and international organizations (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian).
Medicine
- Kindermed (pediatrics) (in Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian);
- Free medical aid, accommodation, food, veterinary help (in Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian);
- Corporation “Life without leukemia” (Instagram) provides help with accommodation and access to medical services for children with cancer, who arrived in Moldova.. Tel.,: +37360497733, +37360200523 (in Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian);
- Free medical aid in the center MedExpert (if you have a stamp of confirming the crossing of Ukrainian-Moldova border) (in Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian);
- Assistance from Initiativa Pozitiva to Ukrainian migrating patients with prevention of HIV treatment in Moldova (in Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian);
- International hospital Medpark in Kishinev provides free emergency help Ukrainian refugees: the hospital website with information about project (in Russian, English, Romanian);
- Free emergency help for Ukrainian refugees in Kishinev: post on Facebook with clinic contacts (in Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian);
- Free emergency dentist help for Ukrainian refugees in Kishinev:post on Instagram with contacts and timetable of the clinic (in Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian).
Humanitarian aid
- The website of the bulletin board in Moldova, there is a section "Assistance to refugees" (languages: Russian, Romanian);
- “Resonance” center in Tiraspol helps women and children with accommodations, transport, humanitarian, psychological and legal help: website page with contact information (in Russian).
Mutual help chats
Telegram
- Help chat in Moldova (Kagul) (in Russian, Ukrainian);
- Telegram chat Ukrainian refugees help each other in Moldova (in Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian);
- Тelegram chat (search for a travel companion) (in Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian).
- Help group in Moldova (in Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian).
Children
- Children’s Center Genius accepts pre-school age children, call 069 928 007, 068 112 555;
- Children’s Center “Happy Life” provides free childcare 9am to 1pm.
Veterinarian help
- Animal oncology and intensive therapy center Zoomama (in Russian);
- List of animal hospitals, offering free veterinarian help to animals that arrived with their refugee-owners from Ukraine (in Russian).
Employment
- Website for finding a job for refugees in Moldova (languages: Romanian, Russian);
- Information about employment conditions for Ukrainian citizens in the Republic of Moldova on the website of the National Employment Agency (languages: Russian, Romanian);
- Facebook group for finding a job for refugees in Moldova (in Russian);
- Telegram-chat with job offers for internally displaced persons in Moldova.
Mobile communication
- Mobil service provider Orange Moldova offers 30 free minutes of phone calls to Ukraine. This offer may be activated daily at My Orange or dialing *100*2341# for individuals and *100*1134# for companies. In similar way the cost of voice calls to Ukraine will be discounted by 85% and cost 1 leu only to all prepaid subscribers. Source (language Romanian, Ukrainian);
- Free prepaid SIM cards and housing assistance for Ukrainian refugees are provided by the Moldtelecom mobile operator: Facebook post (languages: Romanian, Ukrainian).
Information resources
- The website with the information for Ukrainian refugees: numbers of “hotlines”, asylum instruction, links on humanitarian aid (in Russian);
- The website with the information for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova: FAQ, useful links, news;
- The website of Kishinev City Hall with information for refugees : accommodation, work, medical care and psychological aid, education, events for kids (in Ukrainian, Russian< Romanian);
- The website of the mutual aid platform in Moldova: accommodation, transportation, humanitarian aid, psychological, legal, medical aid (in Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian);
- The article MC.today with information and useful links, contacts for refugees in Moldova (in Ukrainian, Russian);
- Great resource DOPOMOGA with various current information on hotlines, medical aid, financial aid, assistance to families with children, humanitarian aid, useful links, etc. (in Russian);
- Instruction how to apply for asylum (in Russian);
- Great number of information and contacts (in Ukrainian and Russian);
- 080080011 — support line on the problems of Ukrainian refugees [Source].
General information
Temporary protection is a legal status granted to Ukrainian refugees on the territory of the European Union.
Who is entitled for temporary protection (menedékes státusz) in Hungary:
- Ukrainian citizens that lived in Ukraine before February 24, 2022;
- Citizens of third countries (other than Ukraine or EU countries) and stateless persons who received international protection or equivalent protection and lived in Ukraine before February 24, 2022;
- Family members of persons of the two previous categories who stayed in Ukraine before February 24, 2022: spouse, minor children, as well as family members who lived in the same household at the time of escape and who need support from the refugee. Family members are entitled for temporary protection even if they do not have Ukrainian citizenship, and also if they arrived in Hungary before February 24.
Persons with dual citizenship (Ukrainian and Hungarian) cannot apply for protection status.
What rights are ensured by the temporary protection status:
After applying for temporary protection status, you have the right for assistance from the state in the following matters:
- accommodation, food, medical care;
- free translation of personal documents;
- employment;
- education of children, children’s attendance of nurseries and kindergartens and free meals for children for 6 months;
- discounted fares for public transportation.
After receiving the temporary protection status, you also get the following rights:
- A residence permit for a person with temporary protection status. If you have a passport valid for foreign travel, this document lets you freely move on the territory of the European Union in accordance with rule 90/180;
- Monthly life support allowance. Applications can be submitted to the OIF (NDGAP) or the district administration (Járási Hivatal) at the place of residence (addresses are listed on the website);
- Family reunion. If one of your family members has received temporary protection in another country of the European Union, you have the right to reside with him/her in the same country.
Validity:
The temporary protection status is valid until March 4, 2023.
In the event that the war does not end before next spring, temporary protection will be automatically extended for another year.
[Source, in Russian, Ukrainian, English.]
- A guide website for forced migrants from Ukraine to Hungary (in Ukrainian, English and Hungarian): information about entering the country, medical and legal assistance, a list of organizations that support refugees, information about work, study, mobile communications, etc.
- Contacts of Ukrainian Embassy in Hungary: +3614224122, +3614224123; huconsul@gmail.com;
- The Office of Aliens Affairs in Hungary, address: Budapest, Budafoki street, 60 +3614639108;
- 24/7 Freephone of Hungary’s government for consultation on the following issue: asylum procedure, crossing the border, entry, documents provision. Free phone number in Hungary: 0680310310, free number if you call from Ukraine: 0800504546, if you call from other countries: +3615501828; email: menekultinfo@me.gov.hu.
Entry
Citizens of Ukraine and foreigners who legally reside in Ukraine can freely enter Hungary with any valid identity documents. No COVID certificate or PCR test required [Source, in Ukrainian, Russian and English].
Children who are crossing the border with their mothers only need a birth certificate.
The Hungarian Veterinary Service has prepared for the arrival of animals (without a microchip, unvaccinated against rabies, without a test for the titer of antibodies to the rabies virus) from Ukraine with their owner. For unhindered entry into the country, it is necessary to fill out a simplified registration form in advance, which can be downloaded here. The completed form must be submitted at the border [Source, in Hungarian, Ukrainian and English].
Border crossings
Ukrainian—Hungarian border crossings:
- Chop (Tysa) — Zahony: the crossing is possible by car or bus. Opening hours: 24/7. GoogleMaps, location: 48.418898, 22.170348;
- Dzvinkove — Lónya: the crossing is possible by car and on foot. Opening hours: 08:00–19:00, Kyiv time. GoogleMaps, location: 48.315428, 22.332395;
- Kosyno — Barabás: the crossing is possible by car and on foot. Opening hours: 08:00–20:00, Kyiv time. GoogleMaps, location: 48.256064, 22.457212;
- Luzhanka — Beregsurany: the crossing is possible by car, bus and on foot. Opening hours: 24/7. GoogleMaps, location: 48.165287, 22.574335;
- Vylok — Tiszabecs: the crossing is possible by car and on foot. Opening hours: 24/7. GoogleMaps, location: 48.093617, 22.835448.
Source: Interactive map of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (in Ukrainian and English)
Refugee centres
- The BUDAPEST HELPS! center for people forced to leave Ukraine because of the war is located at Budapest, 1052, Bárczy István utca 1-3 (Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00). The center provides information consultations (including for citizens of third countries) on access to education and health care, employment and various issues. The center also offers courses of Hungarian and English, children’s circles and cultural activities.For details, visit the center’s Facebook page (in Ukrainian, English, Hungarian);
- Official 24/7 transit center for Ukrainian refugees in Budapest is located in Budapest Olympic center (Budapest Olimpiai Központ), near Budapest Keleti station. Address: 1146, Budapest, Dózsa György street, 1. There is a metro station Puskás Ferenc Stadion near the transit center. The center provides humanitarian, medical, vet, legal and information, finding accomodation and job aid, organized sleeping quarters, currency exchange works, the Ukrainian Embassy is located there. There are volunteers and interpreters, and you can get a SIM card for free [Source, in English].
Temporary protection
Temporary Protection Status (“menedékes”) in Hungary shall be also granted to you if you have not arrived in Hungary directly from Ukraine but through another country. However, you may only request protection if you arrived in Hungary on or after 24 February 2022.
The application must be submitted in person at any of the customer service offices of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság, OIF, or NDGAP). Click here for addresses of the OIF offices by city and customer service offices (in English).
Beginning on May 9, 2022, you may send the information for the application ahead of time to the OIF, electronically via the «Menedekes» app or on the «Enter Hungary» platform. Even in these cases, you must appear in person at an OIF office (NDGAP) or any Local Government Office. (The Local Government Offices accept the applications from persons who filled out the forms electronically. See the map for the locations of the Local Government Offices).
At an OIF (NDGAP)/ Local Government Office you will receive a form (standardized form) that you must fill out at the OIF office in front of an official there. All applications must be submitted in person and you cannot send someone else to do so on your behalf.
You must have your children with you if you are seeking protection for them as the case officer shall take their photographs and fingerprints. Children over 16 may submit their own application; for those younger than 16, a parent or other legal representative (e.g. a guardian) must be present. If a child has traveled without their parents, a request may be submitted for the adult they traveled with to be their guardian.
To receive the temporary protection status you must offer proof that you are eligible for it and submit the documents supporting your citizenship and/or marital status. You are still entitled to protection if you meet the criteria for persons who have the right to receive the Status but have no official documents providing proof. In such cases, the authorities will ask additional questions. After you have submitted your application and the official has recorded all necessary information, you receive a laminated card, known as a humanitarian residence permit in Hungary. While your application is being assessed, you can use this card to prove that you are in Hungary legally.
The authorities are required to make a decicion on your case within 55 days.
[Source 1, in Russian. Ukrainian and English; Source 2, in English.]
If you are not a Ukrainian citizen but were a resident of Ukraine and arrived in Hungary with proof of residency, you cannot receive a Temporary Protection Status. You will receive Temporary Residence Status (ideiglenes tartózkodásra jogosító igazolás) when crossing the border. If you haven’t obtained temporary residency immediately upon arrival in Hungary, you will need to contact one of the offices of National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF or NDGAP).
Temporary residence permit is valid for 1 to 3 months and can be extended if there is a respectable reason why you cannot return to your home country.
[Source, in Russian, Ukrainian and English.]
Accommodation
- Information about free housing and jobs with free housing provided by volunteers. To find a job, you can either see the list or submit an application. Women and children can apply too, volunteers are trying to help with kindergarten or school;
- Website with information about housing, provided by volunteers or charities. (It is possible to choose different options — type of housing(mostly rooms), capacity, living with children/pets, location, language of the owner);
- Map with housing offers (the description is in Hungarian);
- Website with housing offers. The free ones are marked with the 1000 HUF(if the owner is paying for public utilities) because the website is not able to post listings for free;
- Housing help from volunteers;
- Website about helping refugees and for those in need of housing.
Healthcare
- Ukrainian citizens receive emergency medical assistance in almost all clinics
- The common emergency number - 112,
- Ambulance – 104;
- National federation organization of people with physical disabilities provides medical aid for Ukrainian refugees in Hungary. E-mail: menekultugy@meosz.hu [Source];
- Free online psychological help in Hungary by phone and in person (in Ukrainian, Russian and English);
- Free gynecological aid (including pregnant women) in the medical center Duna: contact in English/Hungarian +3617907070, contact in Ukrainian +36706980696, address 1095 Budapest, Lechner Ödön fasor, 5;
- Hot line for diabetics: +36303114977. Source;
- People with dual citizenship (Ukrainian and Hungarian) can contact the nearest physician (therapist). Additional information:+3614761100;
- In case of emergency call children’s hospital ambulance Heim Pal: +36 1 459 9100 - Heim Pál Children's Hospital. address: Budapest, Üllői út., 86 (on Google карте);
- 24/7 free hotline number for medical help for children (medical assistance, hospitalization, consultancy, COVID-19, compulsory vaccination, eic.): +3680200223;
- People with dual citizenship (Ukrainian and Hungarian) can contact the nearest podiatrist. Additional information: +3614761100;
- Free 24/7 hotline on general health issues — 1812 [Source].
Budapest:
- First aid center for Ukrainian refugees Honvéd is located near Western station (Nyugati pályaudvar, Nyugati Railway Station): (Next to the platform and tobacco shop);
- Medical aid in Budapest from National organization for people with autism: +3613541073;
- Psychological aid for children in crisis situations: +36304434751.
Legal assistance
List of organizations and initiatives providing legal support for Ukrainian refugees in Hungary: Facebook post (in Hungarian, has autotranslation).
Humanitarian aid
- Humanitarian aid collection and distribution centers in Budapest: an updated Facebook post (in Hungarian). The list includes the charities’ location and working hours, and the type of help they provide and require. If you need humanitarian aid, you should probably first contact the charity’s members via the phone numbers given;
- The locations and contact info of organizations dealing with humanitarian aid collection and distribution in Hungarian communities are listed in the Google Doc (in Hungarian). The list is made up by a Facebook group of people helping Ukrainian refugees and is updated on a regular basis.
Mutual help chats
- Telegram chats for mutual assistance and exchange of experience for refugees from Ukraine in Hungary: "Volunteer community in Hungary" , "Hungary Help" (in Ukrainian and Russian). The chats contain contacts and information resources, and you can also ask a question;
- The “Help for Ukrainians” Facebook group publishes offers and requests for assistance, opportunities in Hungary for refugees from Ukraine, information materials, etc. (languages: Hungarian, English, Ukrainian);
- A Facebook group to help Ukrainian refugees in Budapest (in English): opportunity to apply for support, vacancies, offers of help.
Children
- Hungarian Association for Migrants Medenék (website in Hungarian and English, email: menedek@menedek.hu) and Jesuit Migrant Assistance Service (website in Hungarian, email: info@jmsz.hu ) provide assistance with enrolling Ukrainian children in Hungarian schools. Medenék mostly helps with elementary schools, and Jesuit Service helps with high school. Please email either of the organizations in any language to receive a consultation on finding the right school. [The source on Facebook, in Russian];
- Free lessons for Ukrainian children in Budapest from the "Neighbours against war" initiative (Facebook, in Russian): language courses, educational programs, help with adaptation;
- Language courses, lessons and leisure activities for Ukrainian refugees in the "ELTE Pop-up School", Budapest: details in the initiative’s Facebook (in English, Ukrainian);
- Help with adaptation, lessons and activities for Ukrainian children, language courses: the "Learning Without Borders" program from the "Migration Aid" organization (website, in Hungarian). For details, announcements and application forms, visit the initiative’s Facebook page (in Hungarian).
LGBTQ+
"Budapest Pride" helps LGBTQ+ refugees from Ukraine with temporary accommodation, meals, and necessary medical services. To request support, write in English to help@budapestpride.hu. The organization's website also contains information and resources about the support that LGBTQ+ refugees can receive in Hungary (languages: English, Ukrainian).
Employment
Citizens of Ukraine, having temporary protection, are entitled to an allowance. To get it, they need to contact one of the regional employment services. The addresses are on the website. At that same time, you’ll be required to register with the employment service. As soon as you start working, you’ll stop receiving the allowance [Source, in English and Ukrainian].
Ukrainian refugees who worked in health care (doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists) can apply for recognition of their diplomas and start working before the recognition procedure is completed [Source, in English].
Information resources
- For information on what to do upon arriving in Hungary, services and other key matters, contact the Office of the UNHCR Hungary (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hungary) via the Helpline Toll-Free number +3680984583 (Mon-Fri — 08:00 to 17:00) or use the chatbot on WhatsApp (follow the link or text Hello to +36 1 445 3676) [Source, in English and Ukrainian];
- The UNHCR Hungary (UNHCR Office for Refugees in Hungary) Telegram channel posts announcements for language clubs, seminars, cultural meetings for people who were forced to leave Ukraine for Hungary, in order to help them adapt, make new friends, and gain necessary knowledge. On the channel you can find answers to frequently asked questions (receiving medical or financial support, finding accommodations, etc.), classes for children and psychological assistance groups, as well as the schedule for the "Budapest helps!" center.
Russia
Leave Russia
Citizens of Ukraine can leave Russia on the basis of any valid documents (biometric passport, old-style international passport, internal passport, ID). Departure from Russia on internal documents (in the absence of a biometric passport) is possible only through land border crossings [Source, in Russian].
- From Russia to Estonia: The Estonian land border with Russia is open: for Ukrainian citizens to enter Estonia, it is enough to present an internal passport. For family members of citizens of Ukraine (spouses, children, parents) who are citizens of another country, a visa or other grounds for entry into Estonia are not required. Citizens of Ukraine and their direct relatives are not subject to entry restrictions imposed due to the epidemiological situation [Official source; languages: Russian, Ukrainian, English and Estonian]. You can get from Russia to Estonia through St. Petersburg. A detailed route, information about transport and carriers and instructions for passing the border crossing on the website (in Russian).
- From Russia to Finland: You can enter Finland to stay and receive temporary protection with any Ukrainian documents. A request for temporary protection is made right at the border; restrictions related to the epidemiological situation do not apply to persons applying for protection/asylum. [Source, in English, Russian, Finnish, Swedish]. The most convenient way to get from Russia to Finland is through St. Petersburg: details of the route on the website (in Russian).
- From Russia to Georgia: Russia's land border with Georgia is open; since June 15, covid restrictions on crossing the border have been lifted [Source, in Russian]. Details about the route on the website (in Russian).
Information site about leaving Russia for Europe for internally displaced people from Ukraine: information about exit routes, border crossings. Also available as a Google Doc (in Russian).
Assitance on leaving
- Assistance to internally displaced persons from Ukraine with departure to Europe from Moscow and St. Petersburg: Telegram-chat “Moscow on the way from Ukraine to Europe”, Telegram-chat “Peter on the way from Ukraine to Europe”;
- Assistance to Ukrainians who were taken to Russia while leaving the country: Telegram-bot for requests for assistance and communication with the coordinators of the project "Passing to Europe";
- "The Friends of Mariupol" project provides assistance to Ukrainians who have ended up in Russia in leaving for Estonia: contact the Telegram bot. More details: Facebook, the organization's Telegram channel.
- Project “Helping to leave”: contact the Telegram bot for help;
- Information and volunteer assistance on issues related to leaving Russia: Telegram chat “Deported to Russia/DPR”;
- Advice to refugees from Ukraine with departure from Russia to Europe, with evacuation from Ukraine to Europe via Russia from the Rubicus organization: details and application form for assistance on thewebsite (in Russian, Ukrainian, English).
- ua2eu project: assistance with the purchase of transport tickets to the border for forced migrants from Ukraine leaving Russia: details and contacts on thewebsite (in Russian).
Help in Russia
Telegram chats of volunteer humanitarian and information assistance for internally displaced people from Ukraine in cities and regions of Russia:
- Belgorod and Belgorod region
- Belgorod 2
- Voronezh and Voronezh region
- Volgograd
- Yekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk region
- Izhevsk
- Kazan and Tatarstan
- Kaliningrad
- Kaluga
- Krasnodar
- Krasnodar Kray
- Krasnoyarsk
- Moscow
- Nizhny Novgorod
- Novosibirsk
- Novorossiysk
- Penza (for TAP residents, applications for assistance are accepted through the Telegram bot)
- Primorye
- Rostov-on-Don
- Rostov-on-Don 2
- Ryazan
- Ryazan and Ryazan region (applications for assistance are accepted through the Telegram bot)
- Samara
- Smolensk
- Sochi
- Tula and Tula region
- Khabarovsk
- Cheboksary and Chuvashia
- Shakhty and Novoshakhtinsk (applications for assistance are accepted through the Telegram-bot)
Telegram chats of volunteer assistance to internally displaced persons from Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories: Crimea, Simferopol, Yalta.
Mutual aid telegram chat for internally displaced people in Russia: communication with volunteers, informational and targeted humanitarian assistance;
Telegram chat for assistance to internally displaced persons from Ukraine living in temporary accommodation centers (TAPs);
Information on how to obtain legal permission to reside in Russia, and also to find accommodation, medical help for citizens of Ukraine and residents of the temporary occupied territories and stateless persons; see the website (in Russian)
Legal, medical, humanitarian, and psychological help in Russia to refugees and migrants from the “Civil Assistance” group: see the website for details and contacts (in Russian, French, English).
Humanitarian aid, psychological and social assistance to the forced migrants from Ukraine from the “Red Cross”: see the website for addresses and regional contacts of the organization.
Moscow and Moscow region:
- Instructions for forced migrants from Ukraine to Moscow and the Moscow region: a document with information on legalization in the Russian Federation (possibility of stay and the procedure for submitting documents); a document with information in the field of healthcare (receipt of emergency assistance, registration of a compulsory medical insurance policy, phone numbers for information) - in Russian;
- Humanitarian and consulting assistance, assistance with accommodation for pregnant women and mothers with children in a crisis situation from the Home for Mom project: website (in Russian);
- Humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons from the Doctor Liza Foundation: contacts and detailed information on the website (languages: Russian, English).
- Medical and psychological help for refugees and stateless persons from “Health and Life” Fund: see the website for contacts of the organization.
St. Petersburg:
- Help with the necessary clothes for all those in need in the clothing distribution center "Thank you!" (by appointment). Contacts and address, procedure for receiving things, detailed information on the store's website (in Russian);
- Channel and chat in Telegram Belarusians of St. Petersburg.
- Assistance in sociocultural integration of migrants’ and refugees’ children: language, leisure, educational activities from the “Children of St. Petersburg” organization: details and contacts on the website (in Russian, English, Uzbek);
- Informational Telegram channel for Ukrainian refugees in Saint-Petersburg: available assistance in the city, issues of legalization and adaptation, mutual help.
Voronezh and Voronezh region:
- Information, humanitarian, legal assistance to displaced women in Voronezh: the Art of Living project: Vkontakte group.
- Contacts and addresses of centers for collecting and issuing humanitarian aid for internally displaced people from Ukraine in Voronezh on the website (in Russian);
- Help with things, clothes, household items for refugees in Voronezh: Telegram chat.
Belgorod: Information for internally displaced people in Belgorod: hotline numbers, contacts of organizations providing assistance (in Russian);
Krasnodar: Humanitarian aid to IDPs from Ukraine in Krasnodar from the Generation Foundation: website (in Russian);
Rostov-on-Don: Humanitarian aid from the organization "Mercy-on-Don": contacts and information on obtaining aid on the website (in Russian).
Telegram-chat of legal assistance for Ukrainian refugees in Russia: information on legalization, paperwork, receiving social benefits (in Russian).
- Emergency legal aid to people accused under the articles on ‘discrediting of the armed forces’ and ‘fakes’ from the Network Freedoms project (Telegram, in Russian): in order to apply for help, write to the hotline in Telegram;
- The ‘Antifoundation’ provides free legal aid to people whose labor rights are violated because of their anti-war position (pressure, politically motivated dismissal): Telegram bot to seek help, the initiative’s Telegram channel (in Russian);
- Psychological support for people who faced police violence or repressions: to request help, use the Telegram bot (in Russian). The initiative was created by the Feminist anti-war resistance, advice is provided by volunteer experts;
- Information about emigration from Russia on the site: choosing a country, looking for work abroad, psychological support, grants and internships, etc. (in Russian);
- Resource on how to talk to loved ones who believe propaganda: cards with reasoned answers to common misconceptions (in Russian);
- Free online psychological help for forced migrants and people who stay in Russia: lections, crisis counseling, open and closed groups of support and therapy: Telegram-channel (in Russian);
- Telegram chat “Border Russia-Europe-Ukraine”: peer support and practical experience of border crossings, questions and answers about immigration and emigration to and from Russia (in Russian);
- Guide (in Telegram, text on the website in Russian) is about what to do if you decided urgently leave Russia indefinitely: where to immigrate right now; what to take with you; how to settle in a new country.
LGBTQ+
- Help in organizing urgent departure from Russia for LGBTQ persons and representatives of ethnic minorities who are subject to mobilization: to request support, fill in the form (in Russian). The initiative was launched by a community of volunteer organizations [Source: Instagram of the “Kvir Svit” organization];
- Mobilization and Queer People: links to information resources and assistance projects for transgender people are collected in the material from “Queer Svit” (in Russian);
- Guide from a Telegram channel “I washed my hands” about leaving Russia as an LGBTQ+ person;
- The hotline for psychological assistance of the Russian LGBT Network provides assistance to every person, regardless of their territorial location. From 12:00 to 15:00 and from 21:00 to 00:00 there is an online chat, from 15:00 to 21:00 (GMT + 3) there is a helpline: 8 800 555 73 74 (in Russian);
- Emergency assistance with APB drugs in Russia for people with HIV who have been forced to leave Ukraine: you can leave an application for medicines on thewebsite (in Russian).
Belarus
General information
Attention: official government websites of the Republic of Belarus might be blocked abroad. Use VPN, for example, Chrome extension: Urban Free VPN, and choose Belarus in settings.
- How to get ready for departure: a checklist (in Russian);
- Information on replacing a Belarusian passport abroad: procedure, required documents, specifics of obtaining a passport in Poland and Georgia, experiences of Belarusians (in Russian);
- TG channels of BySol foundation: memo and general information on departure and evacuation (in Russian).
Entry
- According to data from the Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus, Belarusian checkpoints work as normal, and the Belarusian side provides help to citizens who come from Ukraine (in Ukrainian, Russian);
- Since March 19th, Belarus and Ukraine do not have a railroad connection, as stated on air of “Current Time” by the President of the Board of Ukrainian Railway Oleksandr Kamyshin;
- With questions about safely exiting Ukraine and choosing a transit route to Belarus for Belarusians, Ukrainians, and citizens of other countries, it is recommended to turn to the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Belarus (in Belarusian, Russian, English): +380504062330; +375173794771, +375173792673, +375172792872.
Pets
- To enter an EU country with an animal, you will need a veterinary certificate, which is issued on the basis of form №1, a veterinary certificate, or a veterinary passport. You can find more about form №1 and examples of certificates here;
- Checklist of documents for leaving Belarus with an animal (in Belarusian);
- Regulations on leaving the country with an animal by different types of transportation (in Belarusian).
Help from volunteers
- If you leave and have no opportunity to take the animal with you immediately, fill out the application for volunteer help in Minsk and Mogilev (temporary transfer, help with paperwork for the pet, if you are not in the Republic of Belarus, help with transportation of the animal abroad;
- If you can help with transfer or transportation, fill out the volunteer application.
Personal experience
- Information from FB on exporting animals from the Republic of Belarus;
- Chat of animal owners who are moving to Poland;
- Example of transporting animals to Georgia.
Additional information on the rules and procedure for crossing the state border
- Hotline: +375 17 329-18-98 (24 hours a day);
- State border committee of the Republic of Belarus;
- Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Belarus.
How to get a visa
- Without a visa, you can travel from Belarus to Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt and other countries [More about travel without visas for citizens on the Foreign Ministry website] (in Belarusian, Russian, English);
- The Italian Embassy in Minsk resumed issuing Schengen tourist visas. More info on the website of the embassy (language Russian, Italian);
- EU visa (Poland): the embassy now opens visas as normal. Visa center website. Embassy contacts (for emergency situations): minsk.wk.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl, +375173885231;
- EU visa can be issued in Georgia or Armenia. You can also receive a humanitarian Polish visa in Georgia: TG-channel “Belarusians of Georgia” '(in Russian).
Transport
- Car. When leaving the territory of the Republic of Belarus in a car, one has to possess:
- “Green card” (mandatory insurance). "Green Card" insurance certificates issued by Russian or Belarusian insurance companies are now considered invalid on the territory of Ukraine;
- Full set of documents for the car: driving license, registration certificate, technical inspection certificate, medical certificate on the state of health, insurance certificate.
- Train. Through Kaliningrad. You can board the train only if you have a Schengen visa or national visa to Lithuania.
- Buses. Since March, 21 there is a daily bus service between Minsk and Warsaw, departing three times a day. Departure time from Minsk: 10:40, 20:00(via Brest), 21:45(via Grodno). You can buy the ticket here (in Belarusian, Russian).
Help for refugees
- Information website for Ukrainian refugees in Belarus: contacts and resources for obtaining volunteer, humanitarian, legal and other assistance, instructions on legalization and integration (in Russian);
- Information from the Website of the UN Refugee Agency (in Russian, English, French, and Spanish) on how to apply for asylum in Belarus;
- Website Refugee Support Center (languages: Belarusian, Russian, English).
Hepl for Belarusians
- “AvocadoHelp” initiative helps people who’ve suffered over peaceful protests in Belarus with finding and paying for advocation. You can leave an application and get more information on their website (in Russian);
- «Feniks», an international community of psychologists and psychotherapists working with the consequences of shocking experiences, mental trauma and stress helps Belarusian citizens and volunteers who help migrants from Belarus in their host countries (in Russian). To sign up for a consultation, you need to register on the eHealth platform.
Relocation to Georgia
- Bus Gomel-Tbilisi (only for citizens of the Republic of Belarus). To travel, you need to have: passport, insurance, PCR / vaccination certificate (Satellite V is suitable). Passage through the territory of the Russian Federation. Travel time is 36 hours. Travel agent's inst;
- Guide to moving to Batumi (website, language: Russian);
- Article on how to get from Minsk to Georgia via Vladikavkaz (website, language: Russian);
- Guide: how to get from Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi (language: Russian);
- Vkontakte mutual Assistance group, where you can ask any question about the situation at the Upper Lars checkpoint (Russia— Georgia land border). Citizens of the Russian Federation need grounds for departure, citizens of the Republic of Belarus are allowed to pass.
Mutual help chats
- Telegram-chat of volunteer assistance to internally displaced persons from Ukraine in Minsk: informational and targeted humanitarian assistance. Requests for help are accepted via Telegram bot;
- Chat for help in Gomel: link to TG (in Russian);
- TG-channel with information about professional and educational programs, internships, and workshops in the sphere of art (in Belarusian);
- Minsk urban platform (FB page): aid to those who leave Belarus and Ukraine, or stay in Belarus. (in Russian, English).
Employment
- Assistance program for Belarusians and Ukrainian people (in Russian);
- Questionnaire for aid requests for Belarusians who left Ukraine after 24.02 or were fired for their civil position.
Information resources
- Information website for Ukrainian refugees in Belarus: contacts and resources for obtaining volunteer, humanitarian, legal and other assistance, instructions on legalization and integration (in Russian);
- How to talk with loved ones who believe in propaganda: site with reasoned answers to common delusions (in Russian).
Other countries
Austria
General information
General information for Ukrainian refugees in Austria
Online document with answers to frequently asked questions about Ukrainian refugees staying in Austria.
Entry
Ukrainian citizens who have a biometric passport usually do not need a visa for entrance to Austria for short-term stays up to 90 days (within a 180-day period). Without a biometric passport, a longer term stay, or to work, a visa is required.
Official state site with all necessary information in Ukrainian, English and German.
Transport
European train companies provide free passage to passengers with Ukrainian passport or identity document in Austria.
Accommodation and food
Housing
- Housing for families with children in the MagicHOME in Vienna (6 places)
- Help for children and families (website, German)
- Volunteer organization Warhelp - help with finding an overnight stay in Vienna for up to 3 days
- Homes for Ukraine provides free, temporary accommodation within Austria for Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes
- Help with finding free housing in Austria, contacts for applying for short-term accommodation in cities for forced migrants from Ukraine from the BBU organization:website (languages: German, English, Ukrainian, Russian).
- Telegramchannel with offers of free / inexpensive temporary accommodation in Austria: links to housing search resources, private offers (languages: Russian, Ukrainian).
food
- Free cooked meals from the public organization Neunerhaus, Vienna, for people in difficult life situations, including forced migrants from Ukraine: details and contacts on thewebsite (in German).
Mutual help chats
- Help for Ukrainians in Ausrtia
- Ukrainian refugees in Austria
- Telegram-chats for Ukrainian refugees’ mutual in Austria: here and there
- Тelegram-chat of mutual help in Austria, Russian / Ukrainian
- Тelegram-chat for help in Austria, English / German
- Telegramchat for forced migrants from Ukraine to Vienna: consultations on obtaining basic assistance in Austria, information support, mutual assistance (languages: Russian, Ukrainian).
- Telegram channels providing information for refugees from Ukraine: regularization of stay, accommodation, employment, transport, sources of assistance, current news: channel Добрi Сусiди, channel Help.Ukraine (in Ukrainian, Russian).
LGBTQ+
- Help for LGBTQ+ people in Austria
- Help for LGBTQ+ refugees byQueer Base (English / German):Facebook,Instagram, office@queerbase.at.
Pets
Refugees from Ukraine can bring their pets into Austria without any special documentation requirements. The main thing is that the animal should be accompanied by a person responsible for it (owner/neighbor, etc.). Also, if possible, it is recommended to bring a certificate of vaccination. Any veterinary measures, such as rabies vaccinations, are carried out after entry.
- Information about free veterinary care for displaced pets from Ukraine in different countries is published in the Telegram-channel Vetinfo (in Russian): post about available assistance in Austria. To navigate through the information, browse the posts in the channel and use the post search. Mutual aid groups for Ukrainians with animals in different countries can be found on Facebook and Telegram.
- Temporary accommodation search for refugees and/or their animals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland — Tasso service (in Ukrainian, German, English);
Information resources
- +43126768709460 - hotline in Austria
- Telephone hotline for Ukrainians in Austria from the Austrian Integration Foundation (ÖIF): +4317151051120 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 18:00). Questions and answers about legalization, stay, receiving medical care, integration, and learning German in Austria are collected on the ÖIF website (languages: Ukrainian, German).
- Official site with information about registration, conditions for refugees, etc (German)
- Help in Austria (site of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
- Regularly updated document with information about all aspects of life in Austria for those fleeing from Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
- Information resource for Ukrainians in Austria: relief center addresses, links to resources for finding accommodation and work, information about transport, medical care, veterinarian assistance, etc. (in Ukrainian).
- Information for forced migrants from Ukraine in Vienna on the website: contacts of aid organizations, legalization, language courses, materials about medicine, education, employment (in Ukrainian).
- Information project «United for Ukraine» for Ukrainian refugees – detailed information about immigration, legal advice, health, employment, financial and social assistance available in different countries (in Ukrainian, Russian, English). The site allows you to submit a request for temporary accommodation and legal advice.
Azerbaijan
Entry
Today when speaking about refugees Azerbaijan mainly means ethnic Azerbaijanis who are now citizens of Ukraine, i.e. the Azerbaijani diaspora.
You should keep in mind that Azerbaijan is trying to remain neutral [the source, 11.03.2022]. Nevertheless, the country accepts ethnic Azerbaijanis and their family members fleeing from Ukraine.
---
Ukrainian citizens may enter Azerbaijan. To do this, they need to have an official certificate confirming the completion of the full course of vaccination, a certificate of negative PCR test results for COVID-19 (more information about anti-COVID measures you can find here), and entry permission by the Operational HQ. Upon arrival they can apply for refugee status, an asylum seeker or be registered as a migrant residing at their relatives’ place.
Mainly women, children, and people over 60 years old, who due to Ukrainian laws have the right to seek asylum in other countries, will be able to take refuge in Azerbaijan.
Legalization
According to the law ethnic Azerbaijani who are citizens of Ukraine can stay in Azerbaijan for 90 days. The state grants them territorial asylum. After these 90 days they can apply for a temporary resident identity card. [The source, 16.03.2022]
The refugees are required to register as migrants within 15 days. The Republic of Azerbaijan State Migration Service is in charge of the procedure. The review of the application for refugee status might take up to 6 month. For this period foreigners are provided accommodation and three meals daily. However, once you apply for refugee status, you have to wait for at least half a year before you get the work permit.
If the asylum seeker is married to a citizen of Azerbaijan, they can just register as migrants and find a job. They can also get registered at the healthcare system, and contact the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection or the Employment Agency.
Psychological counselling
The program of providing psychological counselling to those fleeing Ukraine is founded by the Community Council at the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan. The program is for Azerbaijani who have left Ukraine and for other people fleeing the region. [The source, 03.03.2022]
- Those needing free psychological counselling can call 0502448004 or 0124098004, or send an email to office@prim.az.
Armenia
Accommodation
- Assistance with free temporary housing in Yerevan and Istanbul for forced emigrants from Russia from the Anti-War Committee of Russia: application form for temporary placement, organization's website (in Russian).
Mutual help chats
Telegram chat “Moving to Armenia | Mutual help” to share experiences of relocating to Armenia.
Information resources
- Google doc with answers to frequently asked questions about relocation to Armenia: arrival, search for housing and work, financial and legal issues (in Russian);
- A list of useful resources for migrants and forced migrants in Armenia, a post in the Telegram chat "Kovcheg | Armenia": websites for finding housing and work, information about legalization, documents, finances, links to mutual assistance chats and more (in Russian). You need to join the chat to be able to view the post.
Belgium
Entering the country
The company of Belgian railways SNCB has opened a program “Help Ukraine”, which lets Ukrainian citizens to travel across Belgium and other European countries for free (the list includes Germany, Holland, Luxemburg, France). To participate in the program you need to buy a "Help Ukraine" ticket in Germany, in the Deutsche Bahn company, or display a Ukrainian passport.
In order to travel for free by high-speed trains TGV and Thalys, you need to contact the SNCB international ticket offices to obtain a special ticket. For Eurostar high-speed trains - to the staff of the Channel Terminal at the Brussels - Midi station.
Temporary Protection Status
When you reach Brussels, if you do not have a place to stay, Ukrainian refugees should report to the Registration Center at Palais 8 at the Heysel in Brussels. Here you can get a Temporary Protection Certificate and assistance with accommodation. If you have accommodation initially, you can register later.
You can find more details in the Telegram chat Help for Ukrainians in Belgium.
Emergency help from the Free University of Brussels for students, teachers, academicians, and administrative workers from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus whose education or work has been stopped because of the war in Ukraine (in English/French).
People who have received a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection are entitled to social services (with the equivalent of a living wage).
Receiving family allowance and civil integration: People who have received a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection have the right, but not the obligation, to complete the integration program in Flanders (social orientation course, Dutch language course, registration at the VDAB or Actiris labor exchange and additional consultations).
People who have received a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection are required to join the state health insurance system. A temporary protection certificate from the DVZ is sufficient to be eligible for registration with the statutory health insurance system.
You need to choose a health insurance company and join it. If you need help with this, please contact the “Sickness and Disability Insurance Auxiliary Fund”. Joining the public health insurance system is retroactive from the first day of the quarter in which the person applied to join the health insurance fund or HZIV (e.g. if you applied before March 31, 2022, insurance will be “backdated” - from January 1, 2022 ).
Accomodation
With a temporary protection certificate you can receive registration documents. You will need to:
- Register at your host family's address based on a temporary protection certificate.
- Contact your local municipality. After checking your residence, you will be included in the register of foreigners and issued an electronic card A.
- Obtain Annex 15, which is valid for 45 days (Annex 15 refers to unrestricted access to the labor market). Do it before checking residence and/or issuing card A,
- In case of moving, notify the municipality about the change of residence. This is crucial for receiving official mail, and for granting and maintaining certain social rights.
- Electronic card A is valid until 03/04/23, then it can be renewed every 6 months (up to 3 years in total).
- For foreign children under 12 parents/guardians may also obtain an identity card in addition to the A card with the same validity period.
Resources for seeking accomodation:
- Information brochure for Ukrainians seeking asylum in Belgium (in Ukrainian)
- Useful information for refugees in Belgium. General questions, housing, opening of a bank account and other
- How to apply for asylum in Belgium, information at the UN Refugee Agency website (in English, French and Dutch)
Work
People who have received a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection have the right to work if they have a resident card A or Annex 15. (Article 10, 6° of the Royal Decree of September 2, 2018 on the employment of foreign citizens). Resident Card A and Attachment 15 will say "Labour Market: Unlimited". If you are willing to work as a self-employed person, it is necessary to apply for a professional card in accordance with the general rules.
- The Free University of Brussels provides emergency assistance to students, teachers, academics and administrative staff from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus whose studies or work activities have been interrupted due to the war in Ukraine
Vet care
Information on free vet care for pets of internally displaced people from Ukraine in different countries is published in the Telegram channel Vetinfo (in Russian): a post about affordable care in Belgium. To navigate through information, study the posts pinned in the channel and use the message search. Mutual assistance groups for Ukranians with animals in different countries can be found on Facebook and Telegram.
Codes in the national registry
- From March 22, IT 141 (which contains information about family composition) will temporarily create a new code living (LOG) 06 "temporary protection". This will make it possible to distinguish between the host family and recipients of temporary protection status who are visiting them.
- On March 7, 2022, code 2.3.0 "Temporary protection" IT 202 of the national register was also activated. This code contains information about the reason for the residence. This allows municipalities to issue category A cards to people under temporary protection. This code is registered on the day the certificate is issued.
- On March 7, 2022, code 3 "Displaced persons" IT 205 was also activated. This code indicates the category in which a particular person is located when entering the register. Therefore, this information should also be included in the personal file of the person(s) concerned.
Combination of temporary and international protection
You always have the right to apply for "international protection" even if you have been granted temporary protection or its status has expired (Article 50 of the Aliens Act and 17 of Directive 2001/55). BUT - examination of an application for international protection of a person who has been granted temporary protection is suspended until the termination of the temporary protection regime (Article 51/9 of the Aliens Act).
Mutual aid
Facebook groups for forced migrants from Ukraine to Belgium: information, answers to questions, targeted aid, job offers, leisure, etc. (communication is conducted in Russian, Ukrainian, English):
- "Ukrainians of Belgium"group
- "Ukrainians in Belgium" (2) group
- "Solidarity with Ukraine (Belgium)"group
- "Defense of Ukraine: assistance to refugees and the wounded"the group
- "Ukrainian youth in Belgium"group
- "Ukrainian Committee of Refugees"group
Telegram-chats of mutual assistance and information support for forced migrants from Ukraine to Belgium:chat 1,chat 2;
Bulgaria
Entrance
Ukrainian citizens have a right to apply for asylum in Bulgaria even if they do not have a valid passport to travel abroad.
In case there is no valid passport, adults should provide other documents with a photo (identity document, driving license) that will verify their identity and Ukrainian citizenship on the border.
- Application for those who need evacuation from Ukraine to Bulgaria (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, Bulgarian);
- Info-source for forced settlers from Ukraine to Bulgaria: assistance in evacuation, information about obtaining temporary protection status, addresses of humanitarian aid centers, health information and program of social reinforcement, find accomodation and job, language study, contacts of free legal aids, etc. (in Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian, English);
- Free legal consultations, representation, and legal protection for people looking for a shelter in Bulgaria; websites: bghelsinki.org (languages: English, Bulgarian); asylum.bg (languages: Ukrainian, English, French, Bulgarian, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Urdu).
Legalization
One can apply for asylum and protection to any Bulgarian authority, including border police staff at border checkpoints.
Bulgarian border police must provide asylum seekers with relevant information and an interpreter (based on the Law on Asylum and Refugees, art. 58, paragraph 6).
Application for international help from Bulgaria can be filed in oral or written (in Bulgarian) form [source] (languages: Ukrainian, English, Bulgarian, Russian).
Detailed information about international protection, entrance with children, registration and legalization in Bulgaria (languages: Ukrainian, English, French, Bulgarian, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Urdu).
Accomodation
- Application for help with searching for housing for Ukrainians who are already in Bulgaria (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, Bulgarian).
- Important: from May 31, 2022, Bulgaria is changing the rules for the stay of Ukrainian refugees. Those staying in free hotels in Bulgaria will need to leave them due to the end of the humanitarian state program. There will be an opportunity to get housing in municipal or state dormitories, but the number of places is limited — 15 thousand beds. [Source] (languages: English, Russian);
- Assistance to forced migrants from Ukraine in Bulgaria: the website of the "Mother Ukraine" organization (in Ukrainian, Bulgarian, English). Information about crisis centers, housing, free medical care; on the website you can leave a request for help with transport and employment.
Children
Children under 14 who are accompanied by a parent or other relative of full age (grandfather, grandmother, aunt, uncle, full-aged brother or sister) and do not have a passport or another document with a photo have to provide their birth certificate or another official document that confirms kinship between a child and an adult relative.
Children from 14 to 18 without a passport can provide another identity document or an official document that confirms kinship with a parent or other adult relatives whom they are traveling with.
Children under 18 without any escort who want to enter the country on the Bulgarian border are let in the country and sent to the social services. This is applicable to children who enter the country:
- without parents;
- without relatives;
- with adults they do not have kin relationship with.
- Children support hubs from the Dobro Foundation: help with adaptation in Bulgaria, support of children’s intellectual development, psychological support, sports and leisure activities. For details and application forms, visit the Telegram channels of the Dobro Kids Center for children from 3 to 6 years old and the Dobro School for children from 6 to 16 years old (in Ukrainian).
Accomodation
- Information on how to apply for asylum in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Website of the UN Refugee Agency (language: English)
- Accommodation offers for Ukrainian refugees can be found here.
Psychological self-help
Memo "How to support a child during a war" by the organization Child Protection, besides the information about emotional support there is a guide how to save yourself and a child during bombing (in English)
Legal assistance
Free legal assistance for refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the "Vaša prava" organization: details and contacts on thewebsite (in English).
Brazil
General information
- Information about entry and stay, obtaining a humanitarian visa on the website of the Embassy of Ukraine in Brazil (in Ukrainian);
- Information for forced migrants from Ukraine to Brazil on the website: legalization, application for assistance with accommodation and support, addresses and contacts of migrant and refugee assistance centers (housing, adaptation, humanitarian assistance), information by cities and states (languages: Ukrainian, English, Portuguese);
- Information project United for Ukraine for Ukrainian refugees – detailed information about immigration, legal advice, health, employment, financial and social assistance available in different countries (in Ukrainian, Russian, English). The site allows you to submit a request for temporary accommodation and legal advice;
- Telegram channels providing information for refugees from Ukraine: regularization of stay, accommodation, employment, transport, sources of assistance, current news: channel Добрi Сусiди, channel Help.Ukraine (in Ukrainian, Russian).
Employment
The integration program for Ukrainian scientists in the State of Paraná.
Mutual help chats
The Telegram channel and chat for Ukrainian refugees in Brazil and Latin America.
Entry
Eurostar announced free entrance into Great Britain for the citizens of Ukraine, who have Ukrainian passports and visas.
You need a visa to enter the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Per March 18, there are several schemes described on UKVI (United Kingdom Visas and Immigration site) that allow citizens of Ukraine to get it. Here are the basic ones:
- Ukraine Family Scheme - for those who have relatives legally residing at the UK territory
- Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) - support of Ukrainian citizens leaving the country because of war, and do not have relatives in the UK. In this case, citizens of Great Britain can become sponsors.
There are other possibilities:
- UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals;
- The British Visa Application Center (VAC) in Kyiv is closed, all services suspended;
- Temporary visa center in Lviv is also suspended.
You can apply for visa in one of other VACs:
- Hungary;
- Moldova;
- Poland;
- Romania.
Before visiting VAC, you need to register online and get a registration number GWF.
If you need help:
Get in touch with UKVI. phone: +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810, if you are already inside of the UK) — pick option 3. It is a free call, hours of operation are Mon-Fri, 24 hours.
- Actual information about getting a UK visa for citizens of Ukraine, from March 18, in Russian and in English;
- Procedure for obtaining refugee status in the UK: information on the official government website (language: English);
- MC.today article with information and useful links and contacts for refugees in the UK (languages: Ukrainian, Russian).
Accommodation
- The UK has launched a "Homes for Ukraine" assistance program, where you can get a residence permit and temporary housing through a sponsorship search among UK citizens or organizations (website in English, details in Russian);
- Website of a non-profit organization to find a host with housing in England. To apply you need to fill out an application form (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English);
- Site for finding accommodation and sponsors in the UK. To leave a request for help you need to register (languages: English, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, etc.);
- Website offering free UK accommodation for IDPs from Ukraine. You have to register to leave a request for help (language: English);
- Service for IDPs from Ukraine to find or offer free temporary housing and other help around Great Britain and Europe (Languages: English, Ukrainian);
- Site for finding free housing in and around Nutsford, Cheshire. You need to register to see information on finding accommodation. (Language: English, but some sections are translated into Ukrainian);
- Refugees at Home website - helps with finding free housing for refugees in the UK (languages: English, Ukrainian, French, Arabic etc.). Contact the helpline: 0300 365 4724 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm).
Medicine
- Website of an organization that provides advice, financial assistance and accommodation for those who need to have an abortion (languages: English, Polish, Spanish, Maltese).
Financial aid
- OPORA website where you can search for sponsors or become a sponsor;
- A website for finding housing and sponsors in the UK. Russian Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, etc.);
- Assistance in finding housing and a host family-a "sponsor" within the framework of the Homes for Ukrainians program: application form and detailed information on the website of the World Jewish Relief organization (page in Russian).
Mutual help chats
- Telegram chat "Ukrainians in the UK" with useful information for Ukrainians who are forced to leave for the UK;
- “Help4Ukraine Refugee GB” TG-chat to help refugees from Ukraine who want to settle in Great Britain;
- Telegram chat "Trafalgar Girls Help Ukrainians" for those coming to the UK;
- Telegram chat "Trafalgar Girls Stuff etc to Ukrainians": clothes, toys and other things for free in London.
Information resources
- Free legal advice for refugees in the UK: questions of immigration, visa, work and housing (language: English);
- Website "Ukrainian community in the UK" with useful information: how to get a visa, find a job, open an account, get psychological support, etc.;
- Information about support programs for Ukrainians in Great Britain on the website of the UN Refugee Agency (languages: English, Ukrainian);
- Search and offers of various assistance for Ukrainian refugees on the “AidNow” website: temporary stay, transportation, translation etc. (in Russian, Ukrainian, English, German, etc.).
Germany
General information
- How to decide in which city to go (in Russian, comparison with Ukrainian cities in terms of size);
- Everything about life in Germany: information about laws, work, education, healthcare , etc. (in German, English, Ukrainian, Arabic, etc.);
- “Handbook Germany” is an information resource for migrants and refugees in Germany: information about legalization, medical assistance, learning German, life and adaptation in the country (in German, English, Ukrainian, Arabic, etc.)
Berlin
- Volunteer group for the assistance of forced migrants in Berlin: assistance with short-term accommodation, humanitarian aid, information support: organization'swebsite; Telegramchat (in German, English, Russian);
- Assistance from the Vitshe organization to forced migrants from Ukraine in Berlin: awebsite with information assistance for those arriving in Berlin (in English); humanitarian and volunteer assistance; cultural, educational, social events for forced migrants: announcements are published on theInstagram of the project;
- What to do when you come to Berlin in plain language (Google document, in Ukrainian);
- Answers to frequently asked questions from the Land Office for Refugees and the Land Immigration Office (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, see at the bottom of the page);
- Berlin helps Ukrainians (Telegram channel — assistance with accommodation in Berlin);
- Hosting People Coming From Ukraine To Berlin (Telegram channel — temporary accommodation in Berlin);
- Coordination center in Berlin — humanitarian aid, transport, search for housing (website in Ukrainian);
- The humanitarian organization in Berlin LaruHelpsUkraine e.V. provides support to people arriving from Ukraine during their entire migration cycle. They provide basic necessities to those who come from Ukraine, help with registration and legal issues, resettlement, social and psychological adaptation and subsequent integration, as well as translation support (site, languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, German);
- Welcome Center Berlin (website in Russian, English, German and other languages).
- Quarteera (Instagram) — is an organization that supports LGBTQ+. Assistance with transfer to Berlin, moving within the city, temporary accommodation (up to one week), registration, legal consultations, psychological counseling, urgent financial help, food, clothes, medicines. Email: help@quarteera.de;
- Free legal advice for refugees and migrants in Berlin (asylum application, Dublin-rejections, possibilities to stay in Germany apart from asylum, family reunification and communication with the administration such as BAMF, LAF, Ausländerbehörde and Jobcenter) (website, languages: English, German);
- A step-by-step description of the arrival and registration procedures on the official website of the city in German and English;
- Information on how to register and obtain benefits in Berlin (in German and Ukrainian);
- A Telegram chat on refugee status, political asylum, health care, and social assistance in Berlin. Updated legal information is sent regularly to the chat room in the form of a guide;
- “Помощь Берлин LaruHelpsUKRAINE” Telegram channel posts information on new laws, job opportunities, courses, and humanitarian aid;
- Official portal of Berlin page with important telephone numbers: emergency services, hotlines for children and women (language: Russian);
- "Berlin helps Ukrainians" Telegram chat: mutual assistance and exchange of experiences for Ukrainian refugees in Berlin. Current information on stay in Berlin, adaptation and getting various assistance is gathered in the Telegram bot (in Russian).
Entry
- Answers of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees to frequently asked questions about entry from Ukraine and stay in Germany (website, information is updated, languages: Ukrainian, Russian);
- “Germany4Ukraine” information portal of the federal government to support Ukrainian refugees from Ukraine: questions and answers, official information about entry and stay in the country, security, medical care, education, employment, integration, etc. (in Ukrainian, Russian, German, English). The initiative is also accessible via a mobile app for Android and iOS.
Entry with pets
Ukrainian citizens can bring in the animals without applying for permission in advance. But after the entrance, it is necessary to contact the local veterinarian to determine the animal's health status and take the required measures (quarantine, rabies antibodies, vaccination against rabies, microchipping, getting a passport). [Source]
- Boarding of pets from Ukraine in Germany (Telegram chat);
- A mutual aid TG-chat to find pet boarding for animals from Ukraine in Germany: "ИЩУ передержку животному в DE из UA";
- The Berliner Tiertafel organization holds events (including events for Ukrainian refugees) where you can get food and things for animals, as well as veterinary examinations (see Facebook page of the organization);
- Google-map of veterinarians in Germany;
- Temporary accommodation search for refugees and/or their animals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland — “Tasso” service (in Ukrainian, German, English);
- Information resources and opportunities for veterinary care for animals of refugees from Ukraine to Germany are collected on the website (in Russian, Ukrainian, English, German);
- Pet boarding, veterinary and consulting assistance for animals in Germany:a Telegram chat (in Russian);
- Experience exchange, consulting assistance for pet owners from Ukraine in Germany: a Facebook group (in Russian, Ukrainian).
Bamberg
- Official information from the city (website in German)
- Bamberg UA - organization founded in 2017 by Ukrainian students of Bamberg University. Consultations for refugees, help in Bamberg
- Himanitarian aid in Bamberg (Instagram)
Bremen
- Official information for refugees arriving to Bremen
- Help for Ukrainians in Bremen (website in German)
Transportation
To Germany
- Free pass on long-distance trains Poland-Germany. The trains depart from Warsaw, Gdansk, Przemyśl (border with Ukraine), Cracow, Vienna, Wrocław. You have to provide the document confirming Ukrainian citizenship.
- Buses to Germany depart from the Ukrainian border (websitesite in English, German).
- Service “Taxi for peace” (Telegram channel with information about transfers from Ukrainian and Polish borders to Germany, assistance with housing in Germany).
- PL - DE transport (Telegram channel with information about transfer from Poland to Germany, languages: English, German, Russian, Ukrainian).
Within the country
- Passengers with Ukrainian passports or identity documents are exempt from riding fare on German trains but the terms of the ride can be different in different states – more detail here.
From Germany to other countries
- If you want to travel forward from Germany to other countries by long-distance train (ICE, TGV, RJX, IC/EC), you can get a free «helpukraine» ticket in the tourist center DB («DB Reisezentrum»). During the ticket check-in, provide the identity document confirming that you are a citizen of Ukraine (passport or ID card) or a confirmation of registration on the territory of Ukraine.
Accomodation
- Article by DW "How a Ukrainian refugee can find housing in Germany" (in Russian)
- Searching for housing in Germany for Ukrainians (site, languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English)
- Accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in Germany (Telegram channel)
- An application form for those seeking housing in Germany on the Unterkunft-Ukraine.de project website (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, German, English)
- A big regularly updated spreadsheet with a list of resources on housing in different cities
- A website for pet owners seeking housing (languages: Ukrainian, German, English)
- A website with housing offers for refugees in Germany (languages: German, English)
- A website with housing and work offers for refugees in Germany (page language: Ukrainian, website language: German)
- "Zusammenleben Willkommen" platform is used to offer and find housing in Germany. To leave a request for housing you need to fill out a form (site language: German)
- Info board for Ukrainians in Germany — topics on the site: registration, housing, work, health, transport, juridical assistance, animals, integration, etc. (language: Ukrainian)
- Project "Moabit Hilft" is providing help with accommodations, paperwork, learning English and German languages (site in German). Contact email: wohnraum@moabit-hilft.com
- Point app for finding temporary free housing in Germany:website; download forAndroid,iOS (in English, German).
- Offers of free temporary accommodation in Leipzig and the surrounding area on thewebsite (in German, English).
Hamburg
- Official information for refugees arriving to Hamburg
- Hamburg: help for Ukrainians in Germany. Hamburg hilft der Ukraine (Telegram channel)
- Hosting center Ankunftszentrum — at the moment, everything is ready to host refugees. There is Russian-speaking staff in the registration center. The center will organize the paperwork, provide accommodation and cash benefits. Address: Hamburg, Bargkoppelweg 66 a.
- Hamburg refugee center (Flüchtlingszentrum Hamburg) - personal and comprehensive d consultations about asylum and laws for aliens, as well as employment, qualification and education; we help to determine individual perspectives.
- Information on refugee assistance in Hamburg: entry, arrival, stay and accommodation in Hamburg, medical care, payments, vaccination against COVID-19, psychological assistance and aid to victims of violence, information for drivers (website, languages: Ukrainian, Russian, German, English, see the paragraph after the cover picture)
Hannover
- Official information for refugees coming to Hannover
- Ukrainian Union in the Lower Saxony (website in German, Ukrainian)
- Address: Podbielskistraße 269 30655 Hannover
- Email: nfo.uvnev@gmail.com
- Ukraine Hilfe Hannover - humanitarian group for Ukrainians in Hannover (Telegram channel)
According to the §24 Residence Law, people who get a temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) are entitled to healthcare services under the law regarding social services for asylum seekers (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz). Furthermore, healthcare is also available to those who have already applied for asylum in Germany. In both cases, you are not directly covered by health insurance but will only receive the care you are entitled to, which you would need to request.
If you don’t have medical insurance and haven’t applied for asylum in Germany, nevertheless, you have a right to urgent medical help. In case of emergency approach the nearest hospital or call the ambulance. More details here.
Unless it's an emergency, there is a rule: if you have a severe illness or suffer from pain and don't have money, you can receive help from the Social Security Office (Sozialamt). It also includes urgent care. This site can help you with searching for the office sozialaemter.com. This site can help you with searching for the office sozialaemter.com
Pay attention to the fact that you have to request help before going to an appointment with a doctor. First, you need to get a special certificate „Behandlungsschein“ from the office. It will make free medical services available for you. In some states, you can get a special medical card („Gesundheitskarte“). More details here.
Assistance to people with drug dependency in Berlin from Fixpunkt organization: psychological and consulting support, assistance in finding a specialist for substitution therapy, treatment of HIV and tuberculosis; free testing for HIV, hepatitis; sterile syringes and dishes for use:website (in German; has a section in Russian).
Assistance to people with HIV and AIDS, assistance to drug-dependent persons in Berlin: free personal, group and online consultations on health issues, mutual support, rights:website of the Berliner Aids-Hilfe organization (in German, English, Ukrainian, Russian, French, etc.)
Hessen
- Instruction with official information for the refugees from Ukraine
- City administration provides assistance to Ukrainians (language: German)
- Hotline: 08001103333;
- Email: ukraine@hmdis.hessen.de;
- Address: Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 12, 65185 Wiesbaden.
- To get temporary asylum in Hessen, you have reach out for registration to Ausländerbehörde, which is responsible for your district, , or to the shelter in Hessen by number: 0641 3037010. You can’t just come to Ausländerbehörde and register. You need to reserve a date for a visit, and in smaller towns, it can only be scheduled after 6 weeks.
Dresden
- Free German language courses from Dresden Technical University for school graduates, students and young scientists from Ukraine: information and contacts on thewebsite (in German, Russian); there is also a list of other offers for studying the language in Dresden (in German).
- Free legal consultations for forced migrants from Ukraine in the field of migration law from the Refugee Law Clinic Dresden association of qualified students of the Technical University of Dresden: organization'swebsite; Facebookgroup (in German).
- Platform with information about consultations, initiatives, language courses, cultural events, etc. for forced migrants from Ukraine in Dresden (in German, Ukrainian).
Düsseldorf
- Official information for refugees coming to Düsseldorf
- Refugee distribution points:
- Railway station;
- Vogelsnger Weg49 — weekdays during working hours (Fri until 13:00);
- Nordlicher Zubringer 5 — weekend and non-working hours.
- All help in Düsseldorf in one place (website in Russian)
- The city's official website features information on registration, meals, housing, medical care, language courses, insurance, work, and more (website in German, Ukrainian)
Cologne
- All help in Cologne in one place (website in Russian)
- Blau Gelbes Kreuz - a nonprofit association that has supported the development of free, democratic Ukraine since 2014 and helps victims of war, especially children, forced migrants, wounded, and other categories of people with urgent needs from the regions that suffered from the war.
- Address: Marktstraße 27, 50968 Köln;
- Email: ukraine@koelnhilft.koeln
- A Telegram chat where you can ask questions
Leipzig
- Official information for refugees and volunteers in Leipzig
- Leipzig helps Ukraine – LhU (Telegram channel)
- Association "Leipzig helps Ukraine" (website in German, English, Ukrainian), where you can find help with any issue in Leipzig
Mannheim
- Official information for refugees provided by the city administration
- The Caritas Association in Mangaïm offers refugees from Ukraine counseling, free clothing, and more. (site, languages: Russian, German)
Munich
- Official information from the city (website in German)
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
- Address: Schönstr. 55, 81543 München;
- Phone: 089/651 29 09-0;
- Email: ugkkm@t-online.de;
- Responsible person - father Volodymyr Viitovych.
- Chat München hilft Ukraine (Telegram channel)
- International cultural center GOROD/Kulturzentrun GOROD
- Address: Arnulfstr. 197, 80634 München;
- Email: info@gorod.de.
- München hilft Ukraine (Telegram channel of the Ukrainian catholic church volunteers)
- Groop for coordination of Ukrainians (Munich) (Telegram channel)
- Drivers München (Telegram channel, topic — drivers, transfer)
- Transfer to Munich for the Ukrainians (Telegram channel, topic – travel questions about reaching to Munich)
- Shelters Munich Bavaria (Telegram channel — here you can both find a shelter in Munich for refugees from Ukraine and help and offer your place as shelter)
- Coordination of housing for refugees in Munich (website in German). To get help you have to fill out the form (languages: Ukrainian, English)
- Association of the young Ukrainians in Berlin (website with useful information, language: Ukrainian).
- Legal issues - an organization that provides legal consultations (led by students) for everyone who needs it (from Munich and its surroundings) about providing asylum and staying in Germany. Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, German.
Nürnberg
- Instruction with official information for refugees from Ukraine
- City administration helps Ukrainians (in German)
- HELP Ukraine - Nürnberg (Telegram channel)
Rostock
- Official information for refugees provided by the city administration
- Rostock helps (Instagram profile)
- “Допомога українцям у Німеччині. Росток” Telegram chat
- Useful addresses and contacts for refugees: meals, studies, etc (website in German, Ukranian)
Other cities
- Information about different cities in Germany
- Entry and asylum in Bavaria: PDF file with information in Ukrainian dated March 5
- You can google the name of the city in English+ Ukraine [e.g., Weimar Ukraine], and for almost every city/village, you will find a site of the local government with general information (usually in German, but google translate translates to any language).
- Info board for Ukrainians in Germany for all cities and states: — topics on the site: procedure of entrance, housing, work, health, transport, legal assistance, animals, integration, etc. (language: Russian)
Security
Volunteers from Germany warn that single women and women with children disappear en masse at the railway stations, many such cases have been reported in Berlin. Criminals disguised as volunteers take away women's passports under the pretext of "paperwork" - these are kidnappings for human trafficking. Volunteers ask you to be vigilant and take precautions:
- Don’t give anybody your passport (you can show it, but don’t give it in any circumstances — a real volunteer won’t require to give the passport away). If they try to take your passport away by force — scream, call for help.
- Try to be around other refugees until arriving at the help center. Don't travel within Europe alone and don't get out of train or bus without urgent need until arriving at the place of destination.
- Trust only verified volunteers, not everyone who calls themselves one. If you don't know what to do and where to go next, approach only the police staff or other official people, not random passer-by.
- Spread this information and warn other women about the danger.
- If you have witnessed a dangerous incident, report it using this form.
Video guides
- Video memo for women about precautions in Germany in English or Russian
- Video instructions with personal experience:
- tips for finding housing in Germany
- tips for finding a job without knowledge of German and with knowledge of German
- tips for finding free furniture for an apartment
- tips for buying a sim card
- video about the cost of living and the cost of food in Germany
- Introductory video on what a temporary refugee accommodation centre is, what they look like and what to expect.
- For car owners:
- how to convert a driver's licence in Germany from Ukrainian to international (video instruction)
- how to register a car (video with English subtitles)
- For parents: video instructions on how to enrol a child in kindergarten and school
- Explanations about the legal status:
- video guide "Brief difference between paragraph 24 and refugee status"
- explanations of a migration service employee (instagram, 57 minutes)
- explanations of an immigration lawyer (instagram, 51 minutes, recording).
Doctors
Doctors on duty and the ambulance will provide assistance for free, even if you do not have insurance. It is important to have a passport of a citizen/resident of Ukraine and (if you already have) local registration. Phone numbers and addresses if you need urgent help (information from the project"Germany from A to Z"):
- Non-emergency doctors on duty (works all over Germany): 116-117 (English, German)
- Emergency ambulance/fire brigade/rescuers: 112 (English, German)
- Police: 110 (English, German)
- If you need prescription medications: doctors on duty at NotfallPRAXIS Marienhospital — in Stuttgart (address: Böheimstr 37, opening hours: Monday-Thursday — from 19:00 to 01:00, Friday — from 14:00 to 01:00, weekends and holidays — from 07:00 to 01:00) and in Esslingen am Neckar (address Hirschlandstraße 97, opening hours: Monday-Thursday — from 18:00 to 23:00, Friday — from 16:00 to 23:00, weekends and holidays — from 08:00 to 23:00).
Additionally, in Germany, some organizations help people without documents anonymously and for free. If you go there for help, your location will not be disclosed to the Social Security Office (Sozialamt). You can find such an organization nearby on this site (in German). You can also search for anonymous and free medical help on the sites Malteser (in German) and Medibüros(in German). detail. You can find more details here.
General practitioners:
- On this site (in Ukrainian), you can search for doctors who accept people from Ukraine for free.
- Besides German, they can speak English, Ukrainian, or RussianFree medical care (Google document, in Russian) for those who don’t have insurance, in Düsseldorf and Ratingen
- A list of practitioners/therapists providing psychological counselling and bodywork recovery sessions to refugees and volunteers in Berlin. There are specialists who speak Russian, English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Hebrew, Serbo-Croatian
- Google-map containing contacts of Russian-speaking doctors in Saxony (all specialties)
- Volunteer organization Medibüro helps people without insurance to get medical help in Berlin (site in English, Russian, Arabic, Spainish, French, etc).
Psychological help:
- In Berlin, you can find more than 500 doctors that provide free psychological and medical help to refugees from Ukraine, for instance, using this site (in German). Also, there you can find out what language the particular doctor speaks. [Source];
- Free medical and psychological online consultations for Ukrainian refugees in Germany from the “Medflex” service: details and procedure for obtaining assistance on the website (in Ukrainian).
Help for people with HIV:
- Berliner Aids-Hilfe e.V. (website, language: German)
- Contacts of organizations providing medical, psychological, and legal assistance to people with HIV in Munster
Information for cancer patients:
- Information for cancer patients from Ukraine: how and where to continue therapy in Germany (website, languages: Ukrainian, Russian)
Abortion info:
- A Facebook page of an organization that provides assistance to those in need of abortion in Berlin
Education
- Scholarship program for scientists from Ukraine at the IFW Institute, Dresden: vacancies for researchers are posted on thewebsite (in English, German);
- List of offers and programs to support students and researchers from Ukraine in Germany on thewebsite (in English);
- This document contains information on the Silent Harbor scholarship program for Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian journalists fleeing the war (Berlin, Germany) sponsored by the Media in Cooperation and Transition gGmbH nonprofit organization. (Languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian)
- Site for evaluating and preparing applications to study in German universities (languages: English, German)
Work
- Vacancies in various fields of employment for forced migrants from Ukraine in Germany on the website (in English, German, Ukrainian)
- List of employment platforms for employment and employment resources supporting Ukrainian refugees (site, language: English)
- Answers to frequently asked questions on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, see at the bottom of the page)
Mutual help chats
Braunschweig (chat andchannel)
Hamburg (channel)
Jena, Erfurt and Weimar (shared Telegram channel)
- Mutual aid TG-chat in Germany
- Informational TG-channel "Німеччина Help |
- FB-group for Ukrainian refugees in Germany
- Search and offers of various assistance for Ukrainian refugees on the AidNow website: temporary stay, transportation, translation etc. (in Russian, Ukrainian, English, German, etc.).
- Telegram chat for Ukrainian refugees in Germany: mutual assistance and exchange of experiences (in Russian, Ukrainian).
Learning German
- German for Ukraine 2022, Telegram channel — free German lessons for Ukrainians in online groups
- German language courses by Goethe-Institut, with a discount of 99,9% for citizens of Ukraine (site, language: Ukrainian)
- A Telegram chat with learning aid from an online language school “MultiTaskers Languages”. The school also offers their free online German language course for absolute beginners to Ukrainian citizens who have arrived in Germany
- Compilation of free German language courses (languages: Russian, German, English, Polish)
- Telegram-channel about studying German language (in Ukrainian)
Staying
- To get the right to a long-term stay in Germany, refugees from Ukraine should obtain a residence permit on the basis of §24 (temporary protection) or on other grounds (study, work, etc.). For this you need submit documents to the migration service before 30.11.2022 [Official source, in Ukrainian, Russian, English, German];
- Current information about stay in Germany for Ukrainian refugees, questions and answers on the website of the Federal Bureau for Migration, Refugees and Integration (in Ukrainian) and on the website of the Berlin Refugee Council (in German);
- “Handbook Germany” is an information resource for migrants and refugees in Germany: information about legalization, medical assistance, learning German, life and adaptation in the country (in German, English, Ukrainian, Arabic, etc.);
- Information about the stay of internally displaced persons from Ukraine in Germany is collected on the website of Goethe-Institute: entry, getting assistance, legalization, adaptation, language learning, employment, etc. (languages: German, Ukrainian, Russian).
LGBTQ+
- “Quarteera” (Instagram) — is an organisation of Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ people in Germany: help@quarteera.de (aid with transfer to Berlin, with transportation in the city, temporary accommodation (up to one week), with registration, legal advice, psychological help, urgent financial aid: food, clothes, medication);
- Intervention Hamburg provides assistance to LBT women in Hamburg, info@lesbenverein-intervention.de; German / English;
- Queer Pride DD (Instagram,Facebook) — LGBTQ+ organisation in Dresden;
- Rosa Strippe (Facebook) provides assistance in Bochum: legal advice, assistance with finding a job, information about centers for psychological, medical, social counseling; info@rosastrippe.de. It runs support groups in cooperation withSenlima for LGBTQ+ people aged 14 to 27 who have been forced to leave their country or do not feel at home, from 17:00 to 19:00 every first, third, fourth and fifth Wednesday of the month at Kortumstraße 143, 44787, Bochum. Ukrainian / English / Russian;
- Help for refugees in different cities of Germany from Deutsche Aidshilfe: legal stay, health, psychological support, etc.; English / Russian / French / Arabic / German.
Berlin
- Help fromSchwulen Beratung Berlin: assistance in finding psychological, medical, legal assistance; English / German / Arabic / Persian / Spanish / French / translators available from other languages;
- Casa Kuà provides accommodation for trans people, intersex people, non-binary people and queer people, especially those affected by racism. Because of the state of emergency due to the war, the organization also tries to provide help for cis-/hetero- BIPOC;
- Housing for LGBTQ+ in Berlin, telegram chatBerlinHosting andLGBTQsupportUkraineBerlin; English German;
- Support group for trans, intersex and non-binary people fromaha-berlin.de. 1st and 3rd Monday, 19:00. Address: Monumentenstraße 13, 10829 Berlin. English / German / Ukrainian / Russian.
Greece
Entry
There are now simplified procedures for entering and staying in Greece for Ukrainian nationals who have suffered from the aggression of the Russian Federation.
Holders of the Ukrainian passport with biometric features can enter from all points of entry (land and air) for a maximum stay of 90 days.
Holders of the old type of Ukrainian passport without biometric features can enter from all points of entry with a transit visa required, for a maximum stay of 90 days.
For the above cases, Greek Police will stamp your passport with an entry date.
Ukrainian citizens who do not carry travel documents, can only enter from the Promachonas Border Control station, where they will be provided with relevant documentation by the staff of the Ukrainian Embassy in Greece or the Consulate in Thessaloniki. With this procedure they have the possibility again for a maximum stay of 90 days.
Children
In case of children of Ukrainian refugees who do not carry travel documents, Greek Police will make a note, under the entry stamp of the passport, of the number of minors that they accompany.
In this case Ukrainian refugees will have to present a certificate of marital status or birth certificate of their children. If you do not have any of these documents, you must complete and file a solemn declaration with the number of children, their name, surname, sex and date of birth. Source
Official information
- Consulate of Ukraine in Thessaloniki (FB, message languages: English, Russian).
- Official information about the stay in Greece for Ukrainian refugees, frequently asked questions, resources for obtaining various assistance on the website of the Ministry of Migration (in English, Ukrainian, Greece)
Vet care
Information on free vet care for pets of internally displaced people from Ukraine in different countries is published in the Telegram channel Vetinfo (in Russian): a post about affordable care in Greece. To navigate through information, study the post pinned in the channel and use the message search. Mutual assistance groups for Ukranians with animals in different countries can be found on Facebook and Telegram.
Accomodation
Assistance with temporary accommodation for Ukrainian refugees: application form on the website of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (in Greek, English and Ukrainian).
Healthcare
NGO Doctors of the World (Mdm-Greece) provides free medical and psychological support, food and hygiene items for refugees from Ukraine. The application form and addresses can be found in this Facebook post (in Ukrainian and English) and on the website (in Greek and English).
Mutual aid
- Help Ukraine GR is an information portal for Ukrainians in Greece, it has a Facebook group and a website (in Ukrainian). There is information about resources and offers of assistance. The document contains addresses and contact details of centers providing humanitarian help and hosting events for refugees from Ukraine, etc.
- Telegram-channel of Ukrainian refugees in Athens: information, targeted humanitarian aid, advertisements of events (in Ukrainian).
Georgia
Entry
The government program to provide housing for refugees in Tbilisi has been suspended as of July, 31 2022. Ukrainian citizens moved to Georgia because of the military actions can receive material assistance from the government and international organizations such as World Vision and UNHCR [Source in Georgian].
- Memo on entering Georgia (in Russian);
- Information about crossing the land border with Georgia;
- Georgian National Tourism Administration Hotline for travelers accommodation: 0800800909 (hard to reach!);
- Website of the Ukrainian Embassy and Consular Department in Georgia;
- List of documents for entering Georgia (for foreigners, children, drivers) is given on the website (in Russian).
Accommodation
Free housing:
- Staying at Ambassadori hotel chain;
- airbnb.com and International Organization for Migration (IOM) help refugees to find free or low-cost housing. Contact IOM for help at prykhystok@iom.int ;
- Temporary residence for political activists, journalists and human right defenders from Russia provided by Free Russia Foundation: application form [Source: Facebook post].
Search for housing for rent: sites geo-home.com, ss.ge, myhome.ge, Binebi.ge (in English, Georgian and Russian). Also, to search for rental housing, you can view thematic groups on Facebook (for example, “Tbilisi rental announcements” and “Apartment for rent in Tbilisi”) and in Telegram (“Batumi/Tbilisi apartments”, “For rent in Georgia”).
Healthcare
- 50 Georgian Lari humanitarian voucher for a medical examination from Sinevo Gruzia. Any citizen of Ukraine may get a voucher for a biochemical, hematologic, and COVID-19 tests.
Psychological help
- “Modi ceramic project” clay modeling group wants to support those who are in distress. Please register in advance at Facebook/Instagram.
Humanitarian aid
- Website that aims to support citizens of Ukraine in Georgia, and connects people in difficult situations with people ready to help: housing, medical and humanitarian assistance, employment (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Georgian, English);
- Points of collection and delivery of humanitarian aid in Tbilisi: a post in the Telegram channel of the Emigration for Action project;
- Website of the Volunteer Movement of Assistance to the People of Ukraine in Tbilisi: humanitarian aid, targeted assistance on request (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English).
Mutual help chats
Telegram
- Volunteer assistance to Ukrainians in Georgia from the “Motskhaleba” Foundation: assistance with a safe exit from Russia to Georgia, temporary accommodation in a shelter in Tbilisi, humanitarian, legal, informational and other assistance: organization’s Instagram page, Telegram channel, information website (in Russian). You can send a request for help using the Telegram bot;
- Volunteer assistance with food, medicines, hygiene products, temporary accommodation, etc. for internally displaced persons from Ukraine to Tbilisi: Telegram channel. Applications are accepted via the Google form;
- Telegram information channel "YOUR UKRAINE": events, job offers, announcements;
- Chat in Telegram to exchange reviews about cafes and restaurant and to get special deals and promotions;
- Flea Market in Tbilisi.
- Expats in Georgia (FB group to communicate and cooperate for visitors to Georgia);
- English speaking FB group "Tbilisi Digital Nomands" in Georgia.
For Belarusian and Russia citizens
“Belarusians of Georgia” Telegram channel with information about entry, legalization, life and integration in Georgia. Navigation post for basic information for Belarusian migrants: crossing the border, searching for housing, insurance, paperwork and more (in Belarusian, Russian).
- Humanitarian visa to Poland for citizens of Belarus;
- Moving to Georgia from Belarus (Instagram post).
“Emigration for Action” (Telegram, in Russian) helps Russian residents who urgently move to Georgia: volunteers advise, answer questions about adaptation and life in Georgia, and provide psychological support at the address: Tbilisi, Betlemi street, 23.
Education
Ukrainian refugees may enroll in Georgian schools by a simplified procedure. Special Ukrainian-language sectors have been created in the Schools of Tbilisi and Batumi with teaching according to the curricula of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Ukrainian applicants can continue their education in higher educational institutions of Georgia without passing the unified national exams [Source: Facebook page of the Ministry of Education of Georgia, in Georgian].
Information resources
- Detailed and helpful site about Georgian infrastructure;
- The largest Russian-language channel about Georgia;
- A channel about life in Georgia with various useful information;
- Articles about personal experience of receiving help in Georgia with links to useful resources: part 1, part 2, part 3 (language: Russian).
Denmark
Entry
Information from The Association of Ukrainians in Denmark (the link leads to the Facebook group) as of March 5th:
We do not recommend applying for refugee status even if you don’t have a biometric passport. If you begin the application process, it will be difficult to stop it or to change the legal status. Besides, the refugee status requires staying in the refugee camp.
The government is working on a number of legislative provisions for the Ukrainian citizens who find themselves in Denmark because of the war. The current recommendation is to avoid decision-making for a week or two until the new legislation is passed.
Pets
Companion animals of Ukrainian citizens can be brought into the country without vaccination documents and microchips. However, prior to or immediately upon arrival, pet owners need to contact the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration by sending a request to email@fvst.dk.
The pet owner will then be contacted to arrange for vaccination or quarantine of the animal if there is a risk of rabies exposure.
Transfer to Denmark
- Help for Ukrainian refugees with going from Poland to Denmark;
- A site with links to the official information on staying in Denmark and free buses from Poland to Denmark for Ukrainian citizens (in Ukranian and English).
Legalization
- Website with information about obtaining a residence permit in Denmark for temporary migrants from Ukraine (languages: Ukrainian, English, Danish).
Transport in Denmark
Passengers with a Ukrainian passport or ID card are exempt from rail ticket charges in Denmark. The source.
Humanitarian aid
- Initiative on involving forced migrants from Ukraine in the cycling culture in Denmark: locals are ready to gift bicycles to those Ukrainians, who need them. To apply for a bicycle, go to the website (languages: Danish, Ukrainian).
Mutual help chats
- Telegram chat for helping Ukrainian refugees in Denmark
- Telegram chat for mutual assistance for Ukrainians in Denmark (languages: Russian, Ukrainian)
Information resources
- Website with information for refugees from Ukraine in Denmark: hotline numbers, current news, information about receiving humanitarian, medical, psychological help (languages: Ukrainian, English, Danish).
Entry
The issue of organizing transportation from the Polish border to Warsaw and then to the centers for the new repatriates, is currently being addressed.
There will potentially be transportation for the new repatriates to Tel Aviv. Please note that this information is about transportation for new repatriates who are citizens of Ukraine and not for citizens of Israel.
- What do you do if the family repatriation is based on the father/husband’s status, but he has to stay in Ukraine?
Ukrainian men liable for military service are now unable to leave the country. It is currently being decided whether their families will be able to go to Israel without them.
For example, if the father is Jewish, his daughter and wife may be able to repatriate without waiting for the father.
- Both the future repatriates and their relatives in Israel can apply. The telephone lines of the repatriation Center operate in Hebrew, Ukrainian, and Russian languages. For the repatriates who are currently in Ukraine:
- Global informational center (toll-free)
- Sokhnut (The Jewish Agency for Israel) coordinators at the border areas (connections to the communities):
- 0800504603
- 0442300478
- 380936517177
- 380960979851
- 0638318336
- 380504691840
- 380952394171
- Sokhnut (The Jewish Agency for Israel) coordinators at the border areas (connections to the communities):
Lviv: 38-050-4318463, Sveta +38 050-4782235
- For relatives in Israel:
- 1800228055 ext. 4 (toll-free)
- 026367714
- 026461447
- For the repatriates currently in Poland
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland:
- Israel Embassy in Warsaw:
- 24 Krzywickiego 02-078 Warsaw, Poland, phone number +48225970500
- Phones of the repatriation department:
- +48575057060
- +48 75056982
- +380677703536
- 0+380677704216
- Israel Embassy in Warsaw:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland:
- For people who have the right to repatriation but came to Israel as tourists:
The Office of Consular Inspection also operates at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.
Free plane tickets and accommodation for Ukrainians of Jewish ancestry:
+972536120741 - municipality phone number
- Consular appointment on repatriation issues in Moldova: Chisinau, Albisoara st. 4, Atrium Shopping Center, 8th floor. On-premises of the Nativ, Israeli cultural center. Pre-registration is not required.
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs hotline: +97225303911, +97225303919, +97225303155.
Updated information on relocation to Israel from the community of Israeli lawyers: facebook, telegram
Jews who are Ukrainian citizens can call the Israel emergency hotline and request the urgent processing of their repatriation case. Details can be found here.
- All the information here is relevant for the Ukrainian citizens entitled to repatriation. NOT for Israeli citizens. NOT for Russian citizens.
- Please note that some of the information here is still under discussion.
- Israel is ready to accept people who have the right of return but, unfortunately, is not responsible for transportation to the border.
Where are the representatives of Israel?
In Warsaw, there is the Israeli Embassy and the Nativ representatives. Nativ is an organization that assists Jewish people from the former Soviet Union in relocation to Israel.
Employees of the Embassy and Nativ go to the border every day and meet people on the Ukrainian side of the border.
There are also Nativ representatives and Embassy employees at the border with Moldova. This border is less crowded, but traveling there is more dangerous.
- Google document with addresses and contacts of Jewish agencies "NATIVE" and Сохнут in Ukraine and the EU on repatriation issues.
Legalization
You need all the documents that prove your connection to the Jewish people. Please note that submitting your documents for the consular inspection in advance is best. In an emergency, it can be done online here. Please carefully read the instructions on how to fill in the questionnaire and read through the list of required documents.
Here you can find more information about the documents.
You need to scan the filled questionnaire and the documents needed and merge them into one PDF file (max size 24 MB). Then, you need to email this PDF file to kyiv_migr@nativ.gov.il.
(You can scan the documents with your phone: on iPhone, you can do that through notes, for example; there are also special apps).
If it isn’t possible to scan documents in advance, take them with you - the Nativ employees will sort it out on the spot. But please note, emailing the documents in advance would speed up the process.
Healthcare
- The Ein Kerem Jerusalem Hospital is ready to accept children with cancer from Ukraine for treatment free of charge. [Source]. The child's family will receive food and household assistance from the MD TERRA "Land of Wonderful Dreams" fund. The parent of the child must send medical documents to milana.mirzayev@gmail.com (letters from volunteers, relatives and friends will not be accepted), they must specify:
- Surname and name of the parent,
- Surname and name of the child,
- Age,
- Diagnosis,
- Attach medical documents,
- Attach a copy of the foreign passport,
- Parent's phone number;
- Maccabi Healthcare Services opened a dedicated emergency call center. It is available to the refugees coming to Israel, the Maccabi members, and their relatives in Ukraine. Maccabi Emergency phone numbers:
- In Israel: *3193,
- Abroad +97237952929,
- In Ukraine: +380893243143.
Humanitarian aid
Application form for assistance to families of Israeli citizens from the Headquarters of ZAKA-Ukraine.
Mutual help chats
- Mutual aid chat;
- Telegram channel for helping Jewish people in Ukraine during the war. You can request a consultation using this channel. In addition, the telephone numbers of Israeli Foreign Ministry employees who assist everyone are provided.
Ireland
General information
The visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens have been lifted.
Ukrainian citizens without international passports can now cross the Irish border with any of the following documents:
- a domestic passport,
- a foreign passport,
- national ID card,
- birth certificate.
Ukrainian citizens can also board Ryanair flights to Ireland using any of these documents.
Detailed information about entry, the status of temporary protection, recieving social welfare support in Ireland for forced migrants from Ukraine is on the govermental website (languages: English, Irish/Gaelic).
Mutual help chats
- Facebook: Irish supporters of Ukraine - housing, work, transportation (languages: English, Ukrainian and Russian)
- Facebook: Ukrainians in Ireland - employment, medical care, housing, transport, entry, etc. (languages: Russian, Ukrainian)
- UkraineToIreland: a TG channel with helpful information for Ukrainian refugees (language: English)
- Telegram channels providing information for refugees from Ukraine: regularization of stay, accommodation, employment, transport, sources of assistance, current news: channel Добрi Сусiди, channel Help.Ukraine (in Ukrainian, Russian).
- Informational Telegram channel for displaced people from Ukraine: resources for receiving assistance, up-to-date information about stay and adaptation in Ireland (in Ukrainian). For the exchange of experience and mutual assistance between Ukrainians in Ireland: Telegram chat (languages: Russian, Ukrainian).
- Telegram chat for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland: exchange of experiences, current information, questions and answers. Detailed information on stay and getting various assistance in Ireland are gathered in the Telegram bot (in Ukrainian).
LGBTQ+
- The Organization for the Protection of the Rights of Lesbians and Bisexual Women (City of Cork) providesassistance to LBT women from Ukraine. Contacts: info@linc.ie, phone: 0214808600.
Language learning
- Free English courses for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland: the detailed information and contacts are on the website (in Ukrainian).
- MC.today article with information, useful links and contacts for refugees in Ireland (languages: Ukrainian, Russian)
- Questions and answers on entry to Ireland, legalization, stay, adaptation and getting various assistance in the country: document1, document2(in Ukrainian).
- Information about stay and integration in Ireland for forced migrants from Ukraine by the volunteer organization Ukrainian Action in Ireland is on the website: aspects of legalization, healthcare, education, search for accomodation and job, language learning recources, timetable of events for forced migrants and other (languages: Ukrainian, English).
- Information project «United for Ukraine» for Ukrainian refugees – detailed information about immigration, legal advice, health, employment, financial and social assistance available in different countries (in Ukrainian, Russian, English). The site allows you to submit a request for temporary accommodation and legal advice.
- Resources with temporary accommodation, transport, humanitarian, medical, volunteer, legal, veterinary, and other aid in different countries on the platform «World With Ukraine» (in Ukrainian).
- Information about obtaining medical care in Ireland for displaced people from Ukraine on the website of the health service (languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian).
General information
Storage rooms
A place costs 3-6€. To find the nearest storage room google the word «CONSIGNA».
In Barcelona, there are storage rooms: inside the central railway station Sants, on the bus station Barcelona Nord, in the city centre, near Catalonia Square Locker Barcelona.
Mobile communication
We recommend to buy European a SIM-card when you enter the EU. Reminder: there is no roaming and there is one rate system, that means if your tariff includes 25GB of Internet, you have it in Romania, in Spain, in Portugal and in any EU country. Calls within the EU are charged at standard operator rates.
Mobile networks in Spain:
- Vodafone;
- LycaMobile;
- Mundo;
- digi;
- yolka.
You can register the card in the nearest Locutorio. It will cost about 10-15€ a month.
Entry
Spain hosts all refugees from Ukraine, regardless of stamps in the passport and first entry country.
To enter to Spain from the EU you have to present one of 3 certificates:
- COVID-19 vaccination certificate with the vaccines recognized in the EU;
- PCR certificate with a negative result, test should be taken not more than 72 hours prior; or an express-antigen test taken not more than 24 hours prior;
- Recovery certificate.
Also you have to fill out a form (English / Spanish / French / German) on the website of the Ministry of Health.
Transfer to Spain
Getting to Spain
By car
To move throughout the EU countries on land an international passport is not required for Ukrainians.
For moving by car within the EU, you need a green card. People who did not have time to buy an insurance can buy it online in Ukrainian insurance companies. For instance, here.
Cars with Ukrainian numbers must be registered in Spain.
By plane
For moving by plane you must have international passports of all family members (including children) and animals’ documents.
Since March 4, Ukrainians do not need COVID certificates and PCR tests for flights to Spain.
We recommend to fly to less loaded cities: Valencia, Málaga, Alicante, Madrid, Bilbao, Santander, San Sebastian etc. (not to Barcelona). There also are volunteers that will help you.
Airline tickets:
- Skyscanner.es (Russian, Ukrainian, English and others are available);
- Wizzair.com offers free tickets from Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, instead of payment you just need to enter Ukrainian passport number (Russian, Ukrainian, English and others are available).
Airline, railway and bus tickets:
- Skyscanner (Russian, Ukrainian, English and others are available);
- Omio (Russian, Ukrainian, English and others are available).
By train
If you do not have some of the documents, you will have to use land transport (bus or train). Now there are no special evacuation routes from Poland to Spain.
Moreover, when you go by land transport, documents for animals are not required.
Webites for searching buses and trains within Spain (Russian, Ukrainian, English and others are available).
Tickets of airline and railway companies:
- German railway (German, English and others);
- Hungarian railway (English, Hungarian);
- French railway (French, German, English and others);
- Spanish railway (French, Spanish, English);
- Italian railway (Ukrainian, Belarusian, Russian, English and others).
Other land transport
Transfer from Poland to Spain (Google application form in Ukranian).
International and temporary protection
Ukraine citizens can legally stay in Spain for up for to 90 days without a visa. During that period, your rights are equal to those of tourists. You can apply for temporary or international protection*. More information on this can be found here (section «Refugees», subsection «International and temporary protection»).
*All the applications will be considered by the same organisation: Refugees Office.
Information about temporary protection will be regularly updated here. You can find more information about the procedure here, here (pdf-files, Spanish) and here (pdf-files, Ukranian).
How to apply for temporary protection? You can submit an application to the department of National Police (Dirección General de la Policía) or in special appointment centres (centros de acogida, recepción y derivación del Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones).
Address in Madrid:
Social Welfare Centre Carr. de Carabanchel a Aravaca, 91 (map).
Addresses in Barcelona:
- Carrer Joan de Austria 118 (9:00–20:00);
- Calle Llacuna 25 (20:00–9:00).
What exactly will the police do? They will take your fingerprints and give you a document confirming your application for temporary protection, with a foreigner identification number (NIE).
I do not have a permanent accommodation. How will I learn about the decision? You have to provide a temporary address in your application. Let the Refugees Office know if there are any changes! You should also provide a contact phone number and an e-mail address in the application. You can give the Refugees Office permission to inform you about their decision by phone or by e-mail.
I am under 18 years old. How can I apply for protection? Your application must be submitted by your legal guardian.
Attention: do not pay lawyers for consultations and help with the application. You will not need it, as the process is very easy. Every step of the way in the police station is free as well. Do not pay for opening bank accounts.
Legalization
To receive access to the temporary shelter (housing, food, medical, legal, psychological aid) government of Catalonia asks Ukrainian citizens who are in Catalonia to send letters here: comiteacollida.igualtat@gencat.cat (in English, Spanish or Catalan). In the letter you need to indicate your name, date of birth, phone number, location. If you have come with other Ukrainian citizens’ children, tell about that in your letter. Also indicate if you have health problems.
You can submit an application by phone:
- inside Catalonia with a fast phone number: 012. Then press «0» to be connected to a Ukrainian-speaking operator;
- outside Catalonia — by phone number: +34932142124. Then press «1», and after a message in Ukrainian — «0» and you will be connected to a Ukrainian-speaking operator.
An operator will ask for your personal data (name, date of birth, phone number, location) and send it to the e-mail comiteacollida.igualtat@gencat.cat.
Transport in Spain
In most cities in Spain street parkings are paid. You can find the schedule of free of charge time near parking metres.
The meaning of the colour marking of parking zones: green — paid parking, where you can park for free from 20:00 tо 08:00, and sometimes on the weekend, blue — paid parking, yellow — parking is forbidden, white — free parking. If there is an inscription «RESIDENTES» in the parking place — you can not park your car (regardless of the colours). These are places for locals.
Breach of parking rules leads to a fine and evacuation of the car to an impound lot.
Do not leave your things unattended in your car: in Spain, especially in Barcelona, street theft and stealing things from the cars (including underground parkings) is common.
Accommodation
In Spain, there is two types of rent: short-term and long-term. Short-term rent is daily, weekly and monthly.
Local services of searching for short-term rent in Barcelona here (English, Russian and others) or there (English, Russian, Ukrainian and others).
Long-term rent is rent with a contract for 5 years and obligatory residence for at least 6 months. Necessary documents: working contract in Spain, payroll statements or tax reports (Spanish) for the self-employed. Also, you can be asked for extra deposit if owners think indicators are not very good.
It is not easy to rent an apartment without documents, but now Spaniards can comromise.
Websites with long-term apartments:
- habitaclia.com (іспанська);
- pisos.com (Spanish, English, French, German);
- badi.com (англійська);
- idealista.com (іспанська, російська, українська, англійська та інші);
- fotocasa.es (іспанська).
If you have no place to spend the night and to eat in Barcelona, contact The Barcelona Centre for Social Emergencies by address Carrer de la Llacuna, 25, Phone: +34 900703030 (Spanish, English).
Help by city
Madrid
- General Unit of Migrant Integration by Ministry of Labour and Social Economy, Department of the Social Work: C/ Pradillo, 40;
- Department of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, address: Avda. General Perón, 32 - 2º Izq. (28020 - Madrid), phone: 915563649/ 3503;
- Committee for Helping Refugees, address: C/ Noviciado, 5 (28005 - Madrid), phone. 915550698/ 2908, Spanish;
- Red Cross in Spain: address - C/ Pozas, 14 (28005 - MADRID), C/ Muguet, 7 (28044 - MADRID), phone: 915325555;
- Help organisation Rescate, address: C/ Valentín Beato 42, 2º B (28037 - Madrid), phone: 914472872/ 2960, Spanish;
- Free legal consultations: address Plaza Santa Mª Soledad Torres Acosta, 2 - 3º (28004 - MADRID), phone 915327478/ 79, fax: 915322059;
- State Collegium of Lawyers, address: C/ Serrano, 9 (28002 - Madrid), phone: 914357810;
- Trade Union, address: C/ Maldonado, 53 (28006 - Madrid), phone: 915900580/ 81;
- Address of the Consulate of Ukraine in Madrid: Rda. Abubilla, 52, 28043 Madrid.
---
Barcelona and Catalonia
The Government of Catalonia allocated 3 hostels with 500+ beds within a radius of 120 km from Barcelona. They provide free food 3 times a day, bunk beds, separate shower rooms, clean linen, towels. Also, there is support from the Red Cross and local volunteers.
You can get a place in these hostels only through the Consulate of Ukraine in Barcelona.
How to get it?
Write a letter to the e-mail of the General Consulate of Ukraine in Barcelona barcelonaconsul@gmail.com. As a subject, make sure to write Refugio. In the text of the letter point the amount of people, first and last names of all family members and phone numbers.
Important! An answer with information to which hostel you have to go has to be sent within several hours. If there is no answer all the day — check the spam or send a letter one more time.
Albergo (shelters) addresses:
- Carrer Sant Ramon 1, city Coma Ruga;
- Avinguda d’Olimpia 4, city Vic;
- Les Masies s/n, city L’Espluga de Francoli.
Humanitarian aid for Ukraine collection point in Barcelona by the Greek Catholic Church: Carrer La Rambla 9.
In case of urgent need you can ask them for food.
Other assistance in Barcelona and Catalonia:
Medical assistance
- PCR test in Barcelona (for payment, there is no free options);
- Barcelona channel for help with medicines for Ukraine (telegram).
Chats and groups
- Telegram channel Infohelp in Barcelona and telegram chat;
- Channel for searching for housing in Catalonia (telegram).
Background information and help
- Emergency aid hotline by Barcelona city council for helping refugees: +34900703030 (in Ukrainian and Russian);
- Address of the Consulate of Ukraine in Barcelona: carrer Numancia, 185. +34934 028956, +34629382936.
---
Valencia
Help in Valencia (telegram)
---
Málaga
- Help on the south of Spain: e-mail: lagaucr@gmail.com; +34952220615;
- Consulate in Málaga cooperates with the local government about placing, food and providing urgent help;
- Address of the Consulate of Ukraine in Málaga: C. Maestranza, 23, 1º Derecha, 29016 Málaga, +34952220615.
---
Help in other cities
Committees of Helping Refugees (CEAR) and the Red Cross in Spanish cities:
- Albacete — 967979583, albacete@accem.es;
- Almería — 950257367;
- Ávila — 920256152, avila@accem.es;
- Balearic Islands — 971295000;
- Bilbao — 944248844;
- Burbáguena — 978733124;
- Burgos — 947268620;
- Cáceres — 927209079, extremadura@accem.es;
- Cádiz — 856560946;
- Canary Islands — 928297271;
- Cantabria — 942360836;
- Catalonia — 933012539/ 93306565;
- Córdoba — 957470176;
- Cuenca — 969231097, Cuenca@accem.es;
- Gijón — 985165677, gijon@accem.es;
- Granada — 958221420;
- Guadalajara — 949266581/ 670563955, azuqueca@accem.es;
- Huelva — 959261211;
- La Coruña — 981168897, galicia@accem.es;
- La Rioja — 941225212;
- León — 987949983, leon@accem.es;
- Lugo — 982257463, lugo@accem.es;
- Madrid — 915550698;
- Málaga — 951561071;
- Murcia — 968268427/ 968977945, murcia@accem.es;
- Navarra — 948206570;
- Oviedo — 985232862, oviedo@accem.es;
- Pamplona — 848480818;
- Salamanca — 923124567, salamanca@accem.es;
- San Juan de Alicante — 965641255;
- San Sebastián (Donostia) — 943242483;
- Saragossa — 976976117, aragon@accem.es;
- Segovia — 921476631, segovia@accem.es;
- Sevilla — 954619164;
- Valencia — 963802244/ 963162477;
- Valladolid — 983539906, valladolid@accem.es;
- Vigo — 886906798, vigo@accem.es;
- Vitoria — 945266805.
Mutual help chats
- Telegram chat «Spain: support for Ukrainians»: useful information, support and coordination of Ukrainians who ended up in Spain due to military actions in Ukraine (Ukrainian, Russian);
- Telegram channel «Spain for Ukrainians: Alicante, Benidorm, Valencia and Granada» (Ukrainian, Russian);
- Telegram channel «Info help for Ukrainians in Barcelona» (Ukrainian);
- Facebook groups by region:
- Barcelona: Ucranianos en Barcelona (Ukrainian, Russian);
- Telegram channel «Legal aid in Spain» publishes information about changes in Spanish legislation, projects of financial, humanitarian and legal support, you can apply for legal assistance (Ukrainian).
Information resources
- Website with the helpful information in Spain: how to apply for Temporary Protected Status, find accommodation, healthcare, jobs, school, etc. (in Ukrainian, Russian, English, and Spanish);
- Help for refugees and migrants in Barcelona and Spain ( document in Russian, updated regularly).
General information
Entry to Iceland for Ukrainian citizens is possible without a biometric passport if you have any other identity document.
To enter with a pet, the pet must have a microchip and be vaccinated against rabies, as well as must spend four weeks of quarantine upon arrival in Iceland [Source, languages: Russian, Ukrainian, English].
In Iceland, you can also apply for a temporary protection. The detailed information about the procedure and stay in Iceland for forced migrants from Ukraine is on the website (languages: Ukrainian, English). In order to speed up the legalization procedure in Iceland, one can register through the government’s online form (languages: Ukrainian, English) before arriving in the country.
Once granted temporary protection status, Ukrainian refugees will be provided with 8 weeks of free housing by the Government of Iceland and will also be entitled for financial support [Official source, in Ukrainian].
There is no Embassy of Ukraine in Iceland, so contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Finland in Helsinki (Embassy’s website in Ukrainian and English) if you have any questions.
Help in Iceland
The center for Ukrainian refugees in Iceland: consultation, humanitarian assistance, information support for Ukrainian refugees to Iceland from the Flottafolk initiative and other local charities. The website contains materials on stay and legalization in the country, addresses of help centers and information on first steps for refugees in Iceland (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, Icelandic).
Information resources
- The Multicultural Information Center is a portal for foreigners, migrants and refugees in Iceland: the site contains information on everyday life in Iceland and possibilities of moving to the country arranged as questions and answers (languages: English, Russian, Polish, Arabic, etc.). A section of the website for Ukrainian refugees; the organization can also be contacted for personal counseling;
- Informationalwebsite “Landneminn” with integration meterials for migrants in Iceland: employment, healthcare and education, culture of the country, and other (languages: English, Icelandic, Ukrainian, Polish, Arabic, etc);
- Questions and answers on obtaining protection and rights of Ukrainian refugees in Iceland are outlined in the article (in Russian): legalization, assistance, employment and health care, etc.
Italy
COVID-19
The state of emergency in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic was canceled on March 31, 2022
From June 1, 2022, no Green Pass or equivalent certificate is required to enter Italy [source].
Until September 30, 2022, it is mandatory to wear FFP2 type respiratory protective equipment in public transport, except for aircraft, in social and medical institutions and social security institutions and in medical institutions.
Transportation
Citizens of Ukraine, who come to Italy, can travel around Italy for 5 days from the date of their arrival free of charge. Trains, ferries and highways will be free of charge to give you the opportunity to get to your accommodation. Here is the order signed by the head of the Department of Civil Protection (Ukrainian nationals must show this link when they travel).
Refugee centres
Caritas is ready to accept people and provide refugee status (in Italian)
Caritas Italiana tel. (+39) 06 661771
- Rome (Roma): hotline number 800938873
- Lazio region: hotline number 803555 (+39 069 950 9292 for calls from abroad)
- Naples (Napoli): via J.F.Kennedy, 54 – Zona Fuorigrotta
- Milan (Milano): hotline number 020202
- Florence (Firenze) and Tuscany (Toscana): +39 389 667 4128
- Piedmont region (Piemonte): +39 351 690 6640
- Bolzano: +39 335 143 8701
Addresses of assistance centers for Ukrainian refugees, step-by-step actions upon arrival to Italy, volunteer assistance and support in integration on the website of Hope Ukraine (in Italian).
Legalization
Citizens of Ukraine with a biometric passport do not need to have an entry visa, and they may stay in Italy for no more than 90 days from the date of entry into the Schengen area. If you have arrived from any Schengen country and the border control in that country have already stamped your passport for entry, 90 days are counted from that date.
If there is no stamp in your passport you must make a declaration of presence (dichiarazione di presenza) to the local authorities within 8 days after your arrival to Italy by contacting any police representative (Polizia di Stato: Questura/Commissariato). The declaration of presence in Italy is submitted once. Each time you change the premises where you stay, the owner must declare that they host a foreigner without rent (dichiarazione di ospitalità) within 48 hours.
At the police station (Polizia di Stato: Questura/Commissariato), you can find out the procedure for obtaining a residence permit (Permesso di soggiorno) in Italy in case of family reunification / request for asylum / temporary protection. Ask whether it is possible to make an appointment to submit documents for the residence permit right away.
With accommodation requests, please contact the local authorities (Prefettura).
If you have arrived in northern Italy inform the Consulate about your arrival by completing thequestionnaire (a separate questionnaire for each person). Do not expect a response from the Consulate after you fill the questionnaire.
Make sure you have a valid travel (foreign) passport on you. If necessary, contact the Consulate General of Ukraine in Milan.
Mobile connection
Telecom Italia mobile carrier offers a week of unlimited calls and Internet to Ukrainian refugees: call 119 or activate the service in the operator’s stores [Source in English].
Temporary protection
According to the decision of the Council of the European Union, people who are forced to flee Ukraine because of the war will be able to receive temporary protection in the EU countries. [Source]
Who exactly can receive temporary protection?
- Ukrainian nationals
- third country nationals or stateless persons who have a Ukrainian
- relatives of such persons.
These persons will have the rights to housing, work, medical assistance, and access to education in the EU countries.
Can Ukrainians who were abroad before February 24th receive protection?
The decision of the EU Council also applies to those who evacuated before Russia invaded Ukraine, or who was in the EU for work or vacation and could not return to Ukraine before that date.
How long will temporary protection last?
It is assumed that temporary protection will be valid for 1 year. This term can be extended. Once the situation in Ukraine improves, the mechanism can be cancelled prematurely.
What should Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war do after crossing the border?
Ukrainians who are fleeing the war automatically receive temporary protection after crossing the EU border. They may go to any EU country where it is more convenient for them to find a place to stay temporarily.
Residence permit in Italy
After coming to Italy, every Ukrainian will have a right to decide whether to apply for refugee status or for a residence permit, specifying one of the possible reasons:
- family reunification (ricongiungimento familiare), or
- special protection (motivi di protezione speciale / calamità / protezione sussidiaria).
In the same way as the other EU states, Italy is considering a possibility to introduce a specific type of residence permits or adapt one of the existing types for the Ukrainians until the European Council issues a directive (we are looking forward to possible changes in the Italian legislation).
Refugee status
Ukrainians who decide to apply for refugee status will have to stay in Italy for as long as that application is considered. You will have to wait for months.
At the same time, the Italian authorities will confiscate ID documents of a Ukrainian national.
For clarifications regarding possible options for legalizing your stay in Italy in each specific situation, please contact the local Police Migration Department (Questura) directly.
Financial aid
The regulation of the Department of Civil Protection (Protezione Civile) on the management of refugees has been published. Each Ukrainian refugee arriving in Italy will be able to receive 300 euros per month for a maximum of three months. Children will receive a contribution of 150 euros per month. [Source]
LGBTQ+
- Housing in Torino for LGBTQ+ people from the TO Housing.
- An LGBT activist group offers accommodation, meals, a monthly budget for small expenses, psychological and medical assistance for LGBT refugees. The group's main language is English, it is also planned to organize communication in Ukrainian or Russian. Contact: rainbowliberationfront@gmail.com.
Veterinary care
Information about free veterinary care for displaced pets from Ukraine in different countries is published in the Telegram-channel Vetinfo (in Russian): post about available assistance in Italy. To navigate through the information, browse the posts in the channel and use the post search. Mutual aid groups for Ukrainians with animals in different countries can be found on Facebook and Telegram.
Education
- Learning Italian free of charge (Telegram channel)
- Advice on the enrollment of Ukrainian children in schools in Italy, tel. +393295775559 or email: ucraina@fondazioneaief.org, Mon-Fri, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, in Ukrainian and Italian [Source, in Italian].
Information resources
- Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy
- Ukraine's Consulate General in Milan
- Ukraine's Consulate General in Naples
- The UN Refugee Agency's information for those seeking for asylum (English, Ukrainian)
- Where can Ukrainian refugees in Italy go (phone numbers, contacts)
- A booklet for Ukrainians who arrived in Italy
- Information project United for Ukraine for Ukrainian refugees – detailed information about immigration, legal advice, health, employment, financial and social assistance available in different countries (in Ukrainian, Russian, English). The site allows you to submit a request for temporary accommodation and legal advice.
- Resources with temporary accommodation, transport, humanitarian, medical, volunteer, legal, veterinary, and other aid in different countries on the platform «World With Ukraine» (in Ukrainian).
Help chats
- Turin
- Emilia-Romagna
- Bolzano
- Naples (Napoli)
- Verona
- Verona and Garda lake
- Venice (Venezia)
- Sicily (Sicilia)
- Ukrainian mums in Italy
- Ukrainians in Italy
- Ukrainian refugees in Italy
- Together in Italy
Facebook groups with mutual help and informational support for forced migrants from Ukraine in Italy: group 1, group 2 (languages: Ukrainian, Russian).
Telegram channels providing information for refugees from Ukraine: regularization of stay, accommodation, employment, transport, sources of assistance, current news: channel Добрi Сусiди, channel Help.Ukraine (in Ukrainian, Russian).
Canada
Permission to enter (CUAET)
On March 17, 2022, Canada launched the new Program: Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency travel (CUAET) and is ready to welcome an unlimited number of refugees from Ukraine. CUAET is a special, accelerated temporary residence pathway for Ukrainians (without refugee status).
- Ua2canada website with information about the program to help Ukrainians in Canada (CUAET) (language — Russian).
It allows Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality to stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to 3 years. Ukrainian workers, students, and visitors, as well as their family members, who are already in Canada, can also benefit from these measures. They can apply to extend their visitor status or work permit for 3 years, apply for a new work or study permit, or extend their existing permit.
Applicants who are abroad, need to apply online for a Canadian visitor visa and provide their biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). Applicants are encouraged to apply for a 3-year open work permit at the same time as their visa application.
You can apply to CUAET using the following link (in English):
- Get an invitation code
- Create your account at the IRCC portal
- Complete the online form (choose emergency travel, not working visa)
- If you want to apply for a work permit, when asked if you want to work in Canada, do not forget to choose “Yes”.
Additional information on CUAET
Elementary and high school students can register for and start attending school as soon as they arrive in Canada, and anyone looking to study at the post-secondary level can apply for a study permit upon their arrival.
For standard cases, the CUAET will facilitate the rapid processing of electronic visa applications within 14 days of receipt of a complete application. To ease the burden on applicants, IRCC is waiving all application fees for these programs.
Ukrainians and their family members are exempt from Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination entry requirements. However, the requirements for the testing (PCR or RT-LAMP) and quarantine (14 days) are not lifted. Read more about it.
Everyone who travels to Canada with CUAET needs to use the ArriveCAN app (download it in advance). Without the COVID test and ArriveCAN you will not be able to board the plane.
Visa application
Visa applications can be submitted online from anywhere in the world. Biometrics can be given at any visa application center (VAC) outside of Ukraine. Use the VAC website to locate the nearest center. Consider that it is not always possible to give biometrics in one center and submit your passport for the visa sticker in a different one.
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) established a dedicated service channel for Ukraine immigration inquiries available for clients both in Canada and abroad:
- Phone number: +1 613-321-4243
- Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 7 pm
- Currently available in English and French
If you submit your inquiry using the IRCC crisis web form, make sure to add the keyword “Ukraine2022”. These inquiries will be prioritized. Visa & travel document fees for Ukrainian citizens are lifted.
When filling out the form, try to explain your situation as consistently and as concisely as possible. Make sure to attach copies of all the documents related to your request, preferably in pdf.
The Canadian visa application process is explained in detail here.
Temporary resident visa (TRV) based on invitation
Canada is introducing new measures to support people affected by the war in Ukraine.
They include:
- Urgent issuing or replacement of passports and travel documents for citizens and residents of Canada who are in Ukraine so that they can return to Canada at any time. It also applies to their immediate relatives who are coming with them.
- Priority is given to the applications from people currently residing in Ukraine, who are applying to Canadian authorities for
- Permanent residence
- Proof of citizenship
- Temporary residence permit
- Citizenship for adoption.
- Exceptions are made for unvaccinated/partially vaccinated citizens of Ukraine. These exceptions allow entry to the citizens of Ukraine who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or vaccinated by the vaccines not recognized by Canada. However, you still need to comply with all other public health requirements, such as quarantine and testing (including a COVID test prior to boarding the flight)
- Enhancing the agency’s ability to provide people with the timeliest responses to their inquiries.
- Introducing a temporary state permit that would allow some of the visitors of Canada, including Ukrainians, to apply for a work permit inside Canada. It means that people who have received job offers can stay in Canada and start working, while their work permit application is processed.
Help chats
- Closed FB-group to help refugees from Ukraine (languages: English, Ukrainian);
- FB-group for help with immigration to Canada (languages: English, Ukrainian);
- A table of humanitarian aid in Canada compiled by Israeli volunteers (languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian);
- FB-group with help for Ukrainians (languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian).
- FB-group with current news and events for Ukrainians in Toronto (languages: Ukrainian, English);
- FB-group where people donate things and furniture to Ukrainians in Toronto and GTA (languages: Ukrainian, English);
- TG-channel and chat of a licensed migration consultant. Assistance in paperwork and legal assistance (language: Russian);
- TG-chat where Ukrainians can ask for help (languages: Russian, Ukrainian);
- Telegram chats for mutual assistance and information support for Ukrainian migrants and refugees in Canada in cities and provinces of Canada (chat languages: Ukrainian, Russian): Winnipeg, Manitoba, New Brunswick.
- Telegram channels providing information for refugees from Ukraine: regularization of stay, accommodation, employment, transport, sources of assistance, current news: channel Добрi Сусiди, channel Help.Ukraine (in Ukrainian, Russian).
For those who are in Canada
- Extension or renewal of the status as:
- Application for a temporary resident work permit (language: English);
- Application for the permanent residence (immigration) in Canada (language: English);
- Application for accommodation and produce/clothing assistance for Ukrainian citizens in Montreal (languages: Ukrainian, French);
- Information for Canadian citizens traveling from/to Ukraine (language: English);
- An article in MC.today with information and helpful links and contacts for refugees in Canada (in Ukrainian and Russian);
- Permanent resident travel document application for those returning to Canada (language: English);
- Information about visiting Canada (language: English);
- Information about working in Canada (language: English);
- Free air tickets for domestic flights for forced migrants from Ukraine in Canada: to get a ticket, you need to write to the following email: info@cissa-acsei.org [Source on the company's website; in English]
- Information about employment in Canada and vacancies for forced migrants from Ukraine are on the govermental website (languages: English, French).
- Help to refugees and migrants in Canada by the CUIAS organisation (the website; languages: English, Ukrainian): the information about stay in Canada, consultations, language courses, help with integration. Events and useful recources for forced migrants from Ukraine to Canada are published on the Facebook page of the organization (in English).
- Platform for searching necessary services and aid for migrants in Canada: after adjusting a filter and/or search by location, you can see contacts of organizations that offer a chosen type of help to newcomers in Canada (languages: English, French).
- Information project United for Ukraine for Ukrainian refugees – detailed information about immigration, legal advice, health, employment, financial and social assistance available in different countries (in Ukrainian, Russian, English). The site allows you to submit a request for temporary accommodation and legal advice.
Cyprus
Entry
- Instruction on getting temporary protected status and residence permit in Cyprus (in Russian);
- Information on the asylum procedure in Cyprus on the UN Refugee Agency website.
Legalization
Application form for Temporary Protected Status in Cyprus (language: English).
Mutual help chats
Telegram
- Telegram-chat for mutual aid for Ukrainians in Cyprus (Russian, Ukrainian);
- Telegram-chat about legal aid for Ukrainians in Cyprus (Russian, Ukrainian);
- Telegram-mutual help chat «Help Ukrainians! Cyprus», where you can ask any question (Russian, Ukrainian);
- TG-chat for communication of Ukrainians in Cyprus (Russian, Ukrainian).
- Facebook group «Ukrainians in Cyprus» (employment, legalization, classes for children, flea market and others). Languages: Ukrainian / Russian.
Humanitarian aid
The website of the organization «Cyprus for Ukraine» coordinates the assistance that Ukrainians who are stuck in the Republic of Cyprus because of the war in Ukraine need: assistance with temporary accommodation, food, medicines and other assistance. Details in this post (Telegram, language: Russian). To get help, you need to fill out a form. There is also a TG chat for questions.
Information resources
Website "Ukrainians in Cyprus" with information about job search, accommodation, temporary protection, entry with animals, medicine, etc. (organization Telegram, language: Ukrainian).
Kyrgyzstan
General information
Beginning on May 1, the territory of Kyrgyzstan can be entered with no vaccination certificate or PSR test. [source]
Helpful information for those arriving in Kyrgyzstan
- Information project United for Ukraine for Ukrainian refugees – detailed information about immigration, legal advice, health, employment, financial and social assistance available in different countries (in Ukrainian, Russian, English). The site allows you to submit a request for temporary accommodation and legal advice;
- Telegram channels providing information for refugees from Ukraine: regularization of stay, accommodation, employment, transport, sources of assistance, current news: channel «Добрi Сусiди», channel «Help.Ukraine» (in Ukrainian, Russian);
- Resources with temporary accommodation, transport, humanitarian, medical, volunteer, legal, veterinary, and other aid in different countries on the platform «World With Ukraine» (in Ukrainian).
Latvia
Entry
Lack of medical documents (valid vaccination certificate for COVID-19) will not impede entry into Latvia for Ukrainian citizens.
If you or your family member require urgent medical help, provide that information to an official of the State Border Guard who works at the border crossing point, or call 113 during entry into Latvian territory.
---
Entry through border crossing points
- border control will be conducted for individuals who enter with biometric passports
- visas will be provided to people who possess travel documents
- if a person has no documents, their identity will be determined in cooperation with competent Ukrainian authorities.
If at the moment of entry you have no place of residence and require help with finding accommodation, refer to an official of the State Border Guard.
If you’re crossing the border with Lithuania or Estonia, you can refer for help with accommodation at State Border Guard numbers +371 67913569, +371 67913568.
Legalization
- Office of citizenship and migration affairs website (useful contacts, information about long-term visa)
- Help for Ukrainian refugees. Where to refer and how to receive it (Here you can find information about arrival and residence, financial help, opportunities for finding employment and food).
- Resource for internally displaced persons from Ukraine to Latvia: information about stay and legalization, addresses of support centers by city, the procedure for obtaining medical care, resources for finding housing, etc. (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, Latvian)
Transport
Free route (Tallinn – Riga – Vilnius – Rzescow – Lviv) for the displaced persons from Ukraine who left the occupied territories for the Baltic countries. To register one needs to call the Ministry of Reintegration hotline at 15-48 (Source, in Ukrainian, Russian).
For Ukrainian women who have suffered from sexual violence, the abortion procedure has been simplified. Up to 12 weeks, an abortion is possible at the request of a woman, up to 22 - for medical reasons. The procedure is free
- Simplified procedure for obtaining an abortion for Ukrainian women in Latvia: information on the website (in Russian)
- If you need urgent medical help, during entering, call the State Border Guard or call 113.
Mutual aid
- TG-чат, here you can fing a help with trasport;
- FB group Ukranians in Riga (Latvia);
- Page of Education department of Riga with information about support concering education (preschool, basic etc);
- Mozaika helping for LGBTQ+;
- Telegram channel for Ukrainian refugees: information on assistance and useful resources in Latvia (in Ukrainian);
- Closed Facebook group for mutual help and information support for Ukrainian refugees in Latvia;
- Cultural events, classes for children, lectures and art workshops from experts for Ukrainian refugees in Riga from the “Common Ground” social initiative: announcements and schedules of events in the organization’s Facebook group (in Ukrainian).
LGBTQ+
Помощь ЛГБТ+ отMozaika:информация для бежен_ок (английский / русский),Facebook. Готовы помочь с правовыми вопросами, вопросами здоровья, питания и размещения.
Lithuania
General information
From May 1, 2022, foreign citizens arriving in Lithuania from any country will not be subject to any COVID-19 requirements
If you are fleeing the war in Ukraine and are coming to the European Union, here you can find the ain information about your rights regarding border crossing upon arrival in an EU country, concerning the rights of temporary protection and application for international protection, as well as rights to travel within the European Union free of charge.
A clarification to the EU directive on the temporary protection of those fleeing the war with Russia. Important: Temporary protection status should not be confused with refugee status.
Who is eligible:
- citizens of Ukraine who permanently resided in Ukraine to date;
- third-country nationals or stateless persons in possession of valid refugee status or equivalent national protection in Ukraine;
- family members of the persons specified in the first two paragraphs, if the family has already been living in Ukraine as of February 24, 2022;
- stateless persons or third-country nationals lawfully residing in Ukraine via permanent residence permit in Ukraine and who cannot safely return to their country.
What is provided:
- a simplified border control procedure with flexible entry conditions (for example, if a person does not have a foreign passport or their passport is not biometric);
- the right to reside in the EU;
- access to the EU labor market;
- access to health services in the EU;
- access to social assistance in the EU.
Validity:
1 year (starting 03/03/2022) with an automatic extension for up to 2 periods of 6 months if the situation does not improve. After that, the EU Council can extend protection for another year - up to three years in total.
Entry and registration
Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa to enter Lithuania and stay for up to 90 days - any identity document will suffice. If necessary, new documents (temporary passport of a foreigner) can be issued in Lithuania by the Migration Department.
Upon arrival in Lithuania, citizens of Ukraine and their family members must visit on of the following the registration center:
- Vilnius - st. Minties, 3 (Gymnasium named after Joachim Lelewel);
- Alytus - st. Pramonės, 1B;
- Marijampole - st. Parko, 9.
The registration center provides beds, food, clothing, and medical care for up to three days, after which those in need will be transferred to long-term housing.
No action will be taken by the migration department against Ukrainian citizens in Lithuania after the expiration of their residence permit or visa, even if they have received a notice to leave Lithuania. They may remain in the country until further notice from the Migration department.
During or after 90 days from arrival, Ukrainians can apply to the migration department service center to be issued a residence and work permit in Lithuania, which will be valid for travel within the EU.
Medical insurance and children's education services will be available immediately upon registration. Source (languages: Lithuanian, English, Ukrainian, Russian)
Medical insurance will be available upon registration with the Migration department.
If one does not have health insurance, but they are in an ambulance, services for citizens of Ukraine will be provided free of charge. There are two types of health insurance in Lithuania:
- state;
- private (here you will find a list of private insurers).
If one applied for asylum or received a temporary residence permit to live in Lithuania as a citizen of Ukraine, they will be covered by state insurance. By finding a job, one will also contribute to health insurance through taxes and be automatically protected.
Those not seeking asylum, not applying for a residence permit for Ukrainians and do not having a job, will have to purchase private insurance. Source (languages: Lithuanian, English, Ukrainian, Russian).
- "Guide for refugee": where and how to rent a house, how to get legal and find a job, how to get medical care, how to minimize costs and find everything you need in the first days;
Information website for Ukrainian refugees in Latvia: hotlines, humanitarian aid, information about healthcare, employment, education, etc. (in Ukrainian).
Work
Citizens of Ukraine who meet any of the following criteria have the right to work and are exempt from obtaining a work permit:
- enjoy a visa-free regime;
- have a Schengen visa;
- have a Lithuanian national visa;
- have a temporary residence permit in Lithuania for humanitarian reasons.
After applying for a temporary residence permit in Lithuania for the purpose of work, they will be exempt from the obligation to obtain a decision from the Employment Service on the compliance of a foreigner's qualification with the needs of the Lithuanian labor market and can start working immediately. The Citizens of Ukraine who have applied for asylum in Lithuania are also entitled to work.
- A site with useful info for refugees: where to find a job, where to exchange currency, how to enroll a child in a school/kindergarten, and much more (languages: Lithuanian, Ukrainian);
Education
Children
- The education services for children are available immediately after registration with the migration department. Source (languages: Lithuanian, English, Ukrainian, Russian);
- For information on the registration of children in kindergartens and schools in Vilnius, see section "Education of children in Vilnius" (languages: Lithuanian, English, Ukrainian, Russian).
Adults
- Vytautas Magnus University helps Ukrainian students and provides places for study in undergraduate and graduate programs, provides an opportunity to transfer from other universities, and to receive a scholarship that covers the cost of education. In addition, it offers psychological assistance, free Lithuanian language courses, etc. (languages: Ukrainian, English);
- Vilnius University is offering an additional scholarship of 300 EUR for Ukrainians forced to leave the universities of Ukraine. The monthly scholarship will be received until August 31 (languages: Ukrainian, English);
- LCC International University offers a free year of education for applicants and students (bachelor's and master's) + a free-living for a year at the LCC Campus (language — English).
Children
- Website of the Lithuanian State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service (including unaccompanied minors) at the Ministry of Social Protection and Labor (languages: English, Lithuanian);
- The International organization Save the Children (language — English) - assistance for children and pregnant women, unaccompanied minors.
Pets
- Simplified entry for pet owners. Maximum five pets per temporarily displaced person. Detailed information on the website of the State Food and Veterinary Service of the Republic of Lithuania.
- Animals that come from Ukraine and do not have microchips or have not been vaccinated against rabies will be marked and vaccinated on the spot, and their isolation conditions will be facilitated. Read more.
Transport
- Ukrainians can use Lithuanian Railways trains and Vilnius public transport for free;
- Free route (Tallinn – Riga – Vilnius – Rzescow – Lviv) for the displaced persons from Ukraine who left the occupied territories for the Baltic countries. To register one needs to call the Ministry of Reintegration hotline at 15-48 (Source, in Ukrainian, Russian).
Accomodation
- Website to help find housing for Ukrainian families with children in Lithuania. It is necessary to fill in the application (languages: Lithuanian, English, Ukrainian);
- List of housing search services.
- A detailed guide on how to settle in Lithuania (in Russian);
- Moving to Lithuania (including Vilnius) from Ukraine (languages: Lithuanian, English, Ukrainian, Russian). Discussed issues: entry, long-term stay, residence, work, admission of children to kindergartens and schools, medical insurance, psychological assistance, starting a business, covid, etc. Consultations, daily from 8:00 to 22:00;
TG-channels and FB groups
- TG Dapamoga LT channel: evacuation of people from Ukraine to Poland and Lithuania, delivery of humanitarian aid to the Polish border and in Lithuania, search for housing, integration in Lithuania (there is an application form for assistance
- TG-channel "Everything will be Ukraine (LT)": current information for a comfortable stay of temporarily displaced persons from Ukraine in Lithuania;
- A useful TG post on departure and temporary asylum in Lithuania for Ukrainians from 'tripmydream' (in Russian).
- Community in Facebook of mutual support for Ukranian people in Latvia
- FB group to help refugees (languages: Russian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian)
Information for Belarusian citizens
Humanitarian and volunteer assistance to forced migrants from Ukraine and political refugees from Belarus from the DAR initiative: organization'swebsite; Telegramchannel (languages: Russian, Belarusian).
Legal assistance
- The website of the Lithuanian Migration Department: Up-to-date information for citizens of Ukraine (languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Lithuanian, English);
- Coming to Lithuania guide (languages: Russian, English) — information for temporarily displaced persons from Ukraine: arrival from Ukraine to Lithuania, employment, business, accommodation, transfers, and much more;
- Free legal consultations for internally displaced Ukraniane people from Lithuanian Bar Association: website with contacts of solidary specialists in various fields of law (in Ukranian)
- Information resource for Ukrainians in Vilnius: information about legalization, employment, education, healthcare, social support program; free language learning, addresses of humanitarian aid points, etc. (languages: Ukrainian, English, Lithuanian).
LGBTQ+
Статья-гайд (на русском языке) о том, как представитель_ницам ЛГБТ-сообщества переехать и обустроиться в Литве: миграционный режим и вопросы легализации, стоимость жизни в Литве, политика государства, услуги и возможности для ЛГБТ-персон.
Luxembourg
Accomodation
An emergency reception centre is available 24/7 to provide accommodation and food to people on initial arrival. More information can be found here.
Information about staying in Luxembourg for internally displaced people from Ukraine on the website: entry, refugee reception center, obtaining temporary protection status, housing search, etc. (languages: Russian, Ukrainian, English)
Groups of mutual aid (Facebook)
- Facebook group (for refugee assistance in Luxembourg: housing, humanitarian aid, etc), languages: English and Ukrainian.
Transport
If you arrive in a personal car that is registered outside the EU, you are required to register the vehicle in Luxembourg. More information is on the website (languages: English, French, German).
General information
Displaced people arriving from Ukraine to Luxembourg are asked to contact the Directorate of Immigration (immigration.desk@mae.etat.lu) to make their presence known and begin a temporary protection or regularisation application.
EU directive on temporary protection: those fleeing from war will now be granted temporary protection in the EU (a residence permit, access to education and the job market for a one-year period, with the possibility of extension).
Entry with pets
Regulations on entry with pets have been simplified. To regester a pet, the owner is requested to contact a veterinarian. More information, contacts, and the registration form for a pet are on the website (languages: English, French, German).
Assistance inside the country
The websiteUkrainian Community in Luxembourg contains the information for forced migrants from Ukraine: aspects of legalization, employment, healthcare, and contacts of the Ukrainian center in Luxembourg that offers advisory services, humanitarian aid, language assistance, and other (languages: Ukrainian, English).
Malta
03.03. New EU Temporary Protection Directive took effect: war refugees will be granted with temporary protection in the EU (they will be granted a residence permit and have access to education and the labor market for a period of one year and with the possibility of renewal)
Embassy of Ukraine in Italy, Malta and San MarinoHotline: +39 351 9886823
Entry
In order to gain entry to Malta it’s necessary to have a biometric passport and to be vaccinated with the vaccine approved by the EU.
Children
In the absence of the passport for travel abroad of a child they should apply to the consular department of the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy with the request to enter the data of the child to the passport of one of the parents.
Accomodation
Groups of mutual aid (Facebook)
Mexico
Official information for refugees, with addresses of aid centers (in English)
The Netherlands
A new EU directive concerning temporary protection was adopted on March 3, 2022: Ukrainian refugees will now be granted a residence permit, access to education and the job market for a one-year period, with the possibility of extension.
In the Netherlands, this directive is already active: the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees in shelters and the registration of refugees in municipalities has begun.
The Dutch government has made it easier for refugees to stay and submit documents from Ukraine. Thus, the period during which Ukrainians with biometric passports may remain in the Netherlands with a visa will be increased from 90 to 180 days. Read more here (English, Russian, Ukrainian).
- Theek 5 public libraries offer free computers, internet, workstations and also free Dutch language classes (in Dutch and English)
General information
A new EU directive concerning temporary protection was adopted on March 3, 2022: Ukrainian refugees will now be granted a residence permit, access to education and the job market for a one-year period, with the possibility of extension.
In the Netherlands, this directive is already active: the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees in shelters and the registration of refugees in municipalities has begun.
The Dutch government has made it easier for refugees to stay and submit documents from Ukraine. Thus, the period during which Ukrainians with biometric passports may remain in the Netherlands with a visa will be increased from 90 to 180 days. Read more here (English, Russian, Ukrainian).
- Theek 5 public libraries offer free computers, internet, workstations and also free Dutch language classes (in Dutch and English)
Accomodation
- Memo: how to choose where to live: in a shelter or with a volunteer
Pets
Information on free vet care for pets of internally displaced people from Ukraine in different countries is published in the Telegram channel Vetinfo (in Russian): a post about affordable care in the Netherlands. To navigate through information, study the posts pinned in the channel and use the message search. Mutual assistance groups for Ukranians with animals in different countries can be found on Facebook and Telegram.
LGBTQ+ aid
Access to hormone therapy for trans people, free STD and HIV testing, support for sex workers in Amsterdam from the Trans United clinic: more info and contact details on the website (in English).
- Here is information about treatment and medical insurance
- Website of an organization that helps those who need an abortion (in English, Polish)
Legal Aid
- A legal organisation specialising in refugee issues
- The Netherlands Migration Service website with up-to-date information for refugees from Ukraine: hotline numbers, refugee reception centers, procedures for obtaining temporary protection status and residence permit (in English and Dutch)
- Here you can find information about registration of citizens of Ukraine in the gemeente (information is regularly updated)
Mutual aid
- Telegram chat for Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands: questions and answers, mutual assistance, current information (languages: Russian, Ukrainian).
- Closed Facebook groups for mutual help and information support for Ukrainians in the Netherlands: group 1, group 2 (languages: Ukrainian, Dutch, English).
LGBTQ+
- For All Who Love offers help with accommodation, legal and medical matters etc. onFacebookandInstagramin English;
- European network of aid for trans peopleTrans United Europe has a clinic in Amsterdam, where transgender people fkeeing from war can get access to hormonal therapy, including people without documents.
For refugees
- Information website for Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands: information on entry and stay; addresses of assistance and temporary accommodation centers; issues of legalization, employment, healthcare, transportation, etc. (in Ukrainian). The website accepts online applications for free psychological, legal, and translation assistance.
- Online application forms to the Ukrainian Embassy in the Netherlands, information on social support, employment, children’s education, finance, etc. on the website (languages: Ukrainian, Russian).
New Zealand
New Zealand has introduced the 2022 Special Ukraine Policy. It enables Ukrainian-born residents of New Zealand to to sponsor their immediate family members' move to New Zealand. This includes: parents, grandparents, siblings and adult children. Each of those can, in turn, include their partners and dependent children in their application. How to apply (available in English, Ukrainian, Russian; Immigration New Zealand website). The offer will be valid for 1 year. Successful applicants will be granted a 2-year working visas, and their children will be able to attend school. The New Zealand government has agreed to accommodate around 4000 refugees from Ukraine within the framework of the program, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced.
The New Zealand government has earlier allocated funding for humanitarian aid and imposed sanctions on Russia: travel ban for Russians and export control.
Entry
Citizens of Ukraine who are in Norway without a visa or with a tourist visa can now stay there for more than 90 days; however, they are still not allowed to get a work permit. Citizens of Ukraine with a biometric passport can enter Norway without a visa. Detailed information (English).
Social media