As of now about 2.5 million Ukrainians have fled their homes and gone into exile. That number will only increase as the Russians escalate the conflict and target civilians more and more.
Poland has the majority of refugees, but friends tell me that some are already in Germany (Europe's best economy) and a relative in Hungary mentioned that my grandmother's town, only 20 miles or so from the border, has received some.
There is one aspect of this that Putin will use to his advantage. Whether or not he manages to subjugate Ukraine enough to install a puppet government, sending millions of Ukrainians into exile will cause strain on the nations that host them.
By no means do I advocate any nation refusing these refugees. There are many Ukrainians in Western Europe, the USA, Canada, etc. Likely some of the refugees will seek to be with relatives already in those nations. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services stands at the ready; I encourage my parishioners to donate to them.
Encouraging or permitting citizens who are deemed no longer useful to a Communist society to go elsewhere has been around for decades. In the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the retirement age was 60. Anyone at or over that age could travel to the West, especially, the Federal Republic of Germany, as often as desired. If they stayed and eventually needed to move to a nursing home, then Deutschmarks would be spent, not Ostmarks. Any German coming to West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) was immediately granted citizenship and given financial support.
One time when I was going through the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charlie, I happened to be walking with a gentleman well past 60. He eagerly showed me some coffee he had bought in West Berlin, along with a few other food items unavailable in the East, save to party members. That experience got me to thinking about the current situation.
From Putin's perspective, large-scale immigration will also raise tensions in the host countries. Far-right groups will be incensed and let their displeasure be known. That 2.5 million could easily double or treble in the coming weeks.
https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county
https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Turfa/e/B00YJ9LNOA%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
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