The High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) listed exactly 1,209,976 refugees on its dedicated website at 11:00 GMT. These are more than 171,000 more than during the previous tally on Thursday.

The authorities and the UN expect the flow to intensify, as the Russian army seems to be concentrating its efforts on major Ukrainian cities.

The UN on Friday welcomed “reports that both sides have agreed to facilitate the safe passage of civilians out of combat zones”. The UN had not yet been formally notified of this agreement late Friday morning.

According to the UN, four million people may want to leave the country to escape the war.

Ukraine is populated by more than 37 million people in the territories controlled by Kyiv – which therefore does not include the Crimea annexed by Russia or the areas under separatist control.

The UNHCR also tries to avoid double counting refugees who cross the border in one country before continuing their journey elsewhere in Europe or even further. 

Poland

Poland, which has taken up the cause of Ukraine, is hosting by far the largest number of refugees arriving since the beginning of the Russian invasion. In total, there were 649,903 in Poland, according to the UNHCR count, or 101,921 more than Thursday and 54.2% of the total counted.

According to Polish border guards, a total of 624,500 people have fled from Ukraine to Poland, according to figures released on Friday.

Before this crisis, Poland was already home to around 1.5 million Ukrainians, most of whom came to work in this European Union member country.

Hungary

Hungary received 144,738 or 12% of the total and almost 12,000 more than the day before, according to the UNHCR.

The country has five border posts with Ukraine and several border towns, such as Zahony, have converted public buildings into relief centers, where Hungarian civilians come to offer food or assistance.

Moldova

The number of refugees jumped in Moldova, rising to 103,254 or 9.2% of the total number. 

A representative of the High Commissioner for Refugees who is on the spot in Moldova stressed Friday during a press briefing that some of the refugees continue their journey to Romania or Hungary, often to find family.

Slovakia

Some 90,329 people fled Ukraine and took refuge in Slovakia, 7.5% of the total, according to UNHCR. 

Romania

In Romania, the UNHCR counts 57,194 refugees or about 4.7% of the total. 

Two camps have been set up, one in Sighetu Marmatiei and the other in the Siret.

Elsewhere

The UNHCR also specified that 110,876 people (9.2% of the total) had continued their journey, once the Ukrainian border had been crossed, towards other European countries.

Russia

Some 53,300 people have also found refuge in Russia, or 4.4% of the total number.