By Alan Charlish

MEDYKA (Reuters) – Ukrainians fleding to central Europe pleaded with the West for tougher sanctions against Russia after Moscow’s invasion which has left more than 1,000,000 refugees.

Near the border between Poland and Ukraine at the Medyka crossing (the busiest), refugees demanded a no fly zone. This was something NATO powers has yet to rule out due to the possibility of escalating conflict.

Solomiya Zidryko (age 18), fled Lviv in west Ukraine and said, “Please close down the sky.” I know it is impossible for us to join NATO, but we should at least close our skies because so many people are already dying.”

It’s wonderful that all of the world watches us and supports us. But it must stop.

Filippo Grandi (head of U.N. refugee agency) said that the potential number of refugees could reach 1.5 million within the weekend, up from the current 1.3million.

Grandi said in an interview to Reuters that “this is the fastest-moving refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two.”

Poland, whose Ukrainian community of around 1 million is the region’s largest, has accepted nearly 800,000 Ukrainian refugees since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Paweł Szefernaker told reporters. The highest number of refugees from Ukraine since war broke out is more than 106,000 who arrived within the last 24 hour.

Russia claimed that its troops had stopped firing on two cities in Ukraine, which would allow civilians to flee fighting. However officials from one city said that Moscow wasn’t fully complying with the ceasefire.

Moscow denies that it targeted civilians. It claims the invasion was a “special operation” designed to capture nationalists it considers dangerous and counter NATO aggression.

POLAND, AND OTHER EU NATIONS

Many escaping Ukrainians are now in Europe, crossing into Slovakia, Hungary, Slovakia, Eastern Poland and Northern Romania.

Peter Szijjarto (Hungarian Foreign Minister) stated that more than 140,000 migrants have arrived in his country from the outbreak of the conflict.

Romanian government, where almost 200,000 Ukrainians fled to flee to Romania in recent years was due to approve a Saturday decree to make use of the government buffer fund for financing housing costs. The funds will be used to house an average of 70k people each day over 30 days. It also wants EU assistance.

“I have stated very clearly that this effort Romania is making cannot be sustained without asking for European Commission help through its financial and support mechanisms,” Interior Minister Lucian Bode said.

Bulgaria will provide financial assistance of 40 Levs ($22.36 per person) for the protection application process. It also plans to help hotel owners that have offered their rooms to refugees. Border police reported that around 20,000 Ukrainians had entered Bulgaria.

WOMEN and CHILDREN

Men of conscription are required to remain in Ukraine for the defense, so it is mostly the children and women who have crossed the border.

Volunteers and authorities from central Europe set up tents in order to offer medical assistance and process asylum papers at borders. Then, they helped Ukrainians locate jobs and housing in larger cities.

Officials stated that many refugees have friends and relatives who are now in their homes, but there is concern about the possibility of more Ukrainians arriving with less help and less.

Vit Rakusan (Czech Interior Minister) estimated Friday that approximately 50,000 people from Ukraine have reached the Czech Republic. While the Czech Republic does not have a border with Ukraine, they expect to receive a significant number of refugees.

Prague made its Congress Centre a major assistance facility for refugees arriving to Czech Capital.

Anthony Blinken (US Secretary of State) met Polish leaders on Saturday, before heading across the border to Poland. He expressed gratitude to Poland for their response to Russia’s actions.

A number of refugees were upset by the Russian aggression on Ukrainian cities. They said they are grateful but wanted more help from other countries.

One 33-year-old lady from Lviv, Olha, said “They can do more by closing the skies.”

When she spoke of the Ukrainian family members that she had left behind, she broke down.

“But, I believe all countries have helped Ukraine greatly and I am extremely grateful for their support.”