Ukrainian refugees.Photo: PETER LAZAR/AFP via Getty

A woman with two children and carrying bags walk on a street to leave Ukraine after crossing the Slovak-Ukrainian border in Ubla, eastern Slovakia, close to the Ukrainian city of Welykyj Beresnyj, on February 25, 2022, following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine.

More than8 million refugeesare believed to have fled Ukraine since the start of the war, one year ago Friday, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Poland has taken in the most refugees, totaling approximately 1.5 million.

“The biggest need isfinancial support,” Celina Kretkowska-Adamowicz, director of program operations forSave the Children in Poland, told ABC News.

Kretkowska-Adamowicz said the humanitarian aid organization has been helping with “child protection, education, and the provision of emergency assistance through cash voucher[s].”

Ukrainian refugees.Hannibal Hanschke/Getty

People fleeing war-torn Ukraine get food, clothing and toiletries at Hauptbahnhof main railway station on March 2, 2022 in Berlin, Germany.

The U.N. Refugee Agency reported results of a survey of 17,000 people who fled Ukraine, which found that 24% havereturned to Ukraine for a temporary visit. Refugees who briefly returned cited their reasoning as visiting relatives (46%), obtaining documents (25%) and checking on property (24%). Less than 20% returned to check on the situation, access healthcare and get supplies. And less than 5% headed back either to help others evacuate or for unknown reasons.

Some have tried to move back to Ukraine, Kretkowska-Adamowicz told ABC News. “But then after a while, [some of them] find out that they are not able to live like this, and then they decide to go back to Poland,” she said.

YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP via Getty Images

A woman sits on the hill as smoke rises above buildings in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv after a Russian missile strike on October 10, 2022, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

On Monday, PresidentJoe Bidenmade asurprise trip to Ukraine to “reaffirm” U.S. supportfor the country as it enters the second year of its war against Russia.

“I am in Kyiv today to meet withPresident Zelenskyyand reaffirm ourunwavering and unflagging commitmentto Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” Biden, 80, said in a written statement.

“WhenPutinlaunched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided,” he continued. “He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.”

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Zelenskyy, 45, posted photos from the visit on social media site Telegram anddescribed his appreciation for Bidenduring a rundown of what they did together.

“Together with Joseph Biden, we visited St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. We laid flowers to the Wall of Remembrance of those who died for Ukraine. We honored the memory of Ukrainian heroes,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Another important thing is that today we unveiled a plaque dedicated to the President of the United States on the Walk of the Brave in Kyiv.”

Zelenskyy continued, “The first call on the night of February 24 last year, our negotiations, the constant and unwavering strong attention to our struggle and defense of Ukrainian democracy, as well as Mr. President Biden’s personal contribution to strengthening the position of freedom in the world — this is something that will always be remembered in history.”

source: people.com