MOSCOW, July 02. /ITAR-TASS/. Nearly 18,000 Ukrainian refugees are staying at temporary accommodation facilities in Russian regions, spokesman for the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) Alexander Drobyshevsky told ITAR-TASS on Wednesday.

“Two additional temporary accommodation centers have been deployed today for Ukrainian citizens, and as of today the total number (of temporary acommodation centers) is 252. More than 17,800 people are staying at these centers, almost 360 people more than on the previous day,” he said.

On the instruction of Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov, the ministry’s units in the Southern Federal District have been put in “emergency mode” operation. “The command strength, forces and facilities of the EMERCOM Southern Regional Center have been put in the emergency mode, and forces of the Central, Volga and North Caucasus centers have been put on high alert,” the ministry official said.

Four additional special complex brigades that also include doctors and psychologists have been organized at field temporary accommodation centers.

The majority of refugees arrive in the Rostov region and Crimea, they are accommodated at temporary centers in other regions of the North Caucasian, Central and Southern Federal Districts. Over the past day alone, EMERCOM aviation and motor convoys transported 225 people, in total - more than 5,000 Ukrainian refugees.

A medical hospital of the Southern regional search and rescue group will be soon deployed in the border city of Donetsk in the Rostov region.