Bulgaria tops list of EU countries by number of Ukrainian refugees registered for temporary protection

More than 100,000 internally displaced people from Ukraine applied for temporary protection in Bulgaria. State sheltered the largest number of refugees in the EU

Bulgarian National Radio shared the figures.

"As of May 12, 252,826 Ukrainians arrived in Bulgaria, 41% of them stayed in the country. 102,522 signed up for temporary protection status, or nearly 100% of all refugees who have remained in the country," said Marian Toševo, State agency for refugees head.

Bulgaria is the first in the list of EU countries with the largest number of Ukrainian refugees who have registered for temporary protection.

The term free hotel accommodation for Ukrainian refugees will not be prolonged. Previously we reported that Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria will be asked to leave the hotel on May 31, located in the resort towns.

By the end of the week a digital platform for collecting data on the number of Ukrainian who intend to remain in the country will start to work because some of them want to leave Bulgaria on May 31. Many refugees say they want to go and live outside the municipal and government facilities, i.e. to pay the rent.

Where Ukrainians who live in hotels will be relocated will become clear by the end of next week, said the government's coordination group.