Ukrainian Refugees in Estonia Offered the Opportunity to Move to Finland

In a press release, the Ministry has revealed that it is ready to receive every week between 50 and 100 Ukrainians who have been sheltered in Estonia, running away from the war in Ukraine, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

“Finland is ready to receive approximately 50–100 Ukrainians fleeing the war from Estonia per week. The arrangement is supposed to start in January, and it would be valid for the time being. Validity is also examined from the perspective of the Finnish reception system,” the Ministry explains in a press release regarding the arrangement.

It also points out that Ukrainians who have temporary protection in Estonia, and want to move to other EU countries aside from Finland, may first come to Finland and then prepare for moving elsewhere.

The Finnish authorities have organized transport from Estonia to Finland for these Ukrainians through bus and ferry, the costs of which will be covered by both countries.

Additional instructions are being prepared by the Finnish Immigration Service and the Estonian immigration authorities for Ukrainians who wish to move to Finland starting from January.

Commenting on the arrangement, the Minister of Interior Krista Mikkonen, said that it is a duty of her country to help those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

“The State Council outlined already in May that Finland is ready to help those fleeing the war also by accepting persons who are under temporary protection who move from other member states. This is part of the EU’s joint actions. It is our duty to help those fleeing the war in Ukraine,” Minister Mikkonen said.

Data show that from the beginning of the war in Ukraine, until now 46,000 Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in Finland, and about 41,000 Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in Estonia. The number of Ukrainian refugees in both countries is therefore quite similar, though Estonia is quite a smaller country in terms of population.

The EU country that has received the highest number of refugees since the beginning of the war is Germany, with over one million Ukrainian refugees already in this country, the majority of whom had been registered in the country in the months of March and April.

Almost eight million, or exactly 7,863,339 people have left Ukraine since February 24 and settled in Europe. Data by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees show that a total of 4,862,561 of them have registered for Temporary Protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe.