Russia faces an influx of some 500,000 refugees who have fled the violence in neighboring Ukraine.

According to the reports, Russian officials and activists said that the refugees have arrived largely at the country’s southern region, which shares a border with Ukraine.

“Since April 1, over 515,000 people have arrived from southeastern Ukraine,” the head of Russia’s migration service (FMS) Konstantin Romodanovsky said.

Moscow has organized about 400 refugee camps to host the refugees, who are mostly concentrated in its Rostov region.

Governor Vassily Golubev said that over 220,000 refugees have entered Rostov region since June 4. He added that about 2,000 people were continuing to cross the border every day.

“The flow of refugees is not abating. Many want to return to their homes when the conflict ends, but increasingly these families want closure, and intend to stay in Russia,” the head of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s human rights council, Ella Pamfilova, said.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has vowed to give the refugees “our utmost attention and necessary help.”

SS