MOSCOW, June 29, 3:58 /ITAR-TASS/. The republics in Russia’s North Caucasus will receive over 500 refugees from southeast Ukraine in the next 24 hours, a Russian Emergencies Ministry source told Itar-Tass.

An Emergencies Ministry plane delivered 125 people, of whom 48 are children, from Simferopol to Mineralnye Vody, on Saturday, June 28.

Rescuers, doctors and psychologists accompanied the refugees onboard.

“Employees of the Russian Emergencies Ministry meet the refugees at the airport and take them to accommodation centers. The people receive psychological assistance and informational help,” the Russian Emergencies Ministry source said.

Alexander Drobyshevsky, the Ministry’s spokesperson, told Tass that more than 16,800 Ukrainian refugees were staying at 282 temporary accommodation centers set up in the regions of the North Caucasian, Southern and Central federal districts as well as Crimea and Sevastopol.

Meanwhile, a second group of refugees (105 people, including 40 children) has arrived in the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, a source at the regional Emergencies Ministry department told Tass.

The displaced persons have been provided with everything to make them feel comfortable.

Many people who are coming from a war-torn country need psychological and medical help. The local branch of the Federal Migration Service will start registering the refugees soon to legalize their stay in Russia.

At present, the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia has 241 refugees from Ukraine, 11 of who arrived in the republic independently and are staying at relatives and friends.

A bus with a third group of Ukrainian refugees is expected to arrive at the Dombai Alpine Skiing resort soon.