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Hundreds of thousands flee Putin’s assault on Ukraine as temperatures drop

 Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues, with the vast majority heading west to Poland, Romania and Slovakia as temperatures fall below zero Celsius.

So far more than 500,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Eastern Europe, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and many recent arrivals are sheltering at temporary camps.

“UNHCR is working with partners and local authorities to provide humanitarian aid and support those in need,” the UN agency added in a tweet.

France has asked the European Commission to give all Ukrainians seeking refuge in the EU “temporary protection,” granting them a simplified asylum application process.

The EU will vote on Thursday on France’s proposal, the likes of which has never been enacted before.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that Europe would “welcome with open arms those Ukrainians who have to flee from Putin’s bombs.”

We are mobilising every effort and every euro to support our Eastern Member States – to host and take care of these refugees,” she said Sunday. “We will do this in full solidarity.”

Those moving west also face worsening weather conditions, according to CNN meterologists Monica Garrett and Chad Myers. Daily highs are currently just above freezing, with scattered rain and snow showers, they said.

In general a cooling trend with more precipitation can be expected for later in the week, they said, adding that this is normal weather for this time of the year, but cold for those stuck outside.

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