1st refugees from Ukraine arrive in Germany

After Russia's attack on Ukraine, the first war refugees have arrived in Germany, however their numbers are still relatively small, reported dpa.

At the Polish border near Görlitz, a single-digit number of people from Ukraine had arrived since Friday, a spokesperson for the Federal Police in Pirna said on Saturday.

In the state of Brandenburg which surrounds Berlin, the initial reception centre in Eisenhüttenstadt took in six refugees by noon on Saturday, according to its own information. A Ukrainian family arrived in Brandenburg an der Havel.

The city of Hamburg had already registered three to four refugees at the arrival centre in the northern port city on Friday.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the premiers of the federal states had discussed the possible admission of refugees on Friday.

Brandenburg alone is getting ready for at least 10,000 Ukrainian refugees in the next few days, according to Premier Dietmar Woidke.

Lower Saxony is also preparing to receive refugees from Ukraine and will expand its capacities, as Interior Minister Boris Pistorius told broadcaster NDR. Thuringia can immediately take in about 3,000 people from Ukraine, according to Premier Bodo Ramelow and Migration Minister Dirk Adams.