NPR News

People fleeing Ukraine cross into Romania

By Grace Widyatmadja,

Deepa Shivaram

Published February 26, 2022 at 2:58 PM EST

People coming from Ukraine descend from a ferry boat to enter Romania after crossing the Danube river at the Isaccea-Orlivka border crossing between Romania and Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022, as Ukrainians flee their country following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Updated February 27, 2022 at 7:28 AM ET

Since Russia's invasion into Ukraine on Thursday, some 368,000 Ukrainians have fled their country, according to the United Nations refugee agency. U.S. officials have estimated that the Russian invasion could produce between 1 million and 5 million refugees.

Satellite images show miles of vehicles attempting to cross into nearby Romania at the Siret border crossing. Poland and Slovakia are also bracing to accept refugees from Ukraine.

"In these tragic times, our thoughts are on the Ukrainian people, on all Ukrainian women, men and children, forced to live in terror, innocent and collateral victims of a war they do not understand and did not want," Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said Thursday.

Conflict in Kyiv intensified overnight into Saturday as Russian forces advanced on the Ukrainian capital. But U.S. officials say Russia has failed to take over any Ukrainian cities so far.

Satellite images from Feb. 25, 2022 show a 4.0 mile (6.5km)-long traffic jam of people, cars and trucks trying to leave Ukraine and cross into Romania near the Siret border crossing. — Satellite images show a 4-mile-long traffic jam of people, cars and trucks trying to leave Ukraine and cross into Romania on Friday near the Siret border crossing.

Cars wait to cross into Romania, at the border crossing, on Feb. 24, 2022 in Solotvyno, Ukraine — Cars wait to cross into Romania at the border crossing in Solotvyno, Ukraine, as the Russian invasion continues.

A woman talks on the phone to organize accommodations after having crossed the border from Ukraine, on Feb. 25, 2022 in Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania. — A woman talks on the phone to organize accommodations in Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania, after having crossed from Ukraine.

Ukrainian women holds her child as they wait to enter Romania after crossing the Danube river at the Isaccea-Orlivka border crossing point between Romania and Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2022. — Ukrainian women holds her child as they wait to enter Romania after crossing the Danube river at the Isaccea-Orlivka border crossing point on Friday.

Ukrainians rest after entering Romania and crossing the Danube River at the Isaccea-Orlivka border crossing between Romania and Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2022. — Ukrainians rest after finally reaching Romania at the Isaccea-Orlivka border crossing. They are among tens of thousands leaving Ukraine.

Sisters embrace after crossing the border from Ukraine at the Romanian-Ukrainian border, in Siret, Romania, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. — Sisters embrace after crossing the border from Ukraine in Siret, Romania, on Friday.

A family cross the border into Romania, on Feb. 25, 2022 in Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania. — A family walks away from the war-torn Ukraine and into Romania on Friday.