Central Europe braces for an influx of Ukrainian refugees | Al Jazeera

The threat of a large-scale Russian invasion looms over Ukraine to the north, south and, especially, the east. On its western border, the countries of Central Europe are eyeing a potential migrant crisis.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia all say they are preparing for the possibility that war will send Ukrainians flooding their way. Some estimate that as many as five million people could flee the country in the worst-case scenario.

After President Vladimir Putin, in a significant shift from Russia’s years-long policy, recognised two rebel-run, pro-Russia statelets in Ukraine’s east on Monday, the self-described “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk, the prospect of a Ukrainian refugee crisis has grown.

The UN’s refugee agency on Tuesday said it has not yet seen signs of more people rushing to escape Ukraine, but that the situation is “highly volatile” and it stands ready to protect refugees.