Penza, 14 July 2014. PenzaNews. 477 people moved to the Penza region from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine since June 25, 2014, reported Elena Stolyarova, Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Demography of the region.

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“884 people moved to the Penza region during six months through the program of resettlement of compatriots living abroad. Among them 56 people are citizens of Ukraine. As for the resettlement from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, 1630 people have already come here from those areas. As many as 477 people have arrived only since June 25,” Elena Stolyarova said during an operational meeting in the regional government on Monday, July 14.

She noted that not all of them can officially be called refugees.

According to Elena Stolyarova, many of them are still deciding on their status on the territory of Russia.

“Some people from the southwest Ukraine came to their relatives and friends. Without migration registration they receive a visitor visa for 90 days. But many people apply for refugee status, temporary shelter or temporary residence permits. Refugee status and temporary shelter are given for one year, and a temporary residence permit is given for three years. 28 people contacted us for the refugee status, and their documents are currently being processed,” the minister explained.