MINSK, June 19. /ITAR-TASS/. Belarusian migration services report an increasing number of refugees from Ukraine.

"The migration flow from Ukraine’s territory has increased threefold," the head of the Belarusian Interior Ministry's Department for Citizenship and Migration, Alexei Begun, told reporters on Thursday.

"Sixty five Ukrainian citizens had applied to appropriate Belarusian services for the refugee status," he said. "Most of the foreigners applying for shelter as refugees are Ukrainian citizens," Begun noted.

He said the number of Ukrainian citizens arriving in Belarus to work and those who applied for a permanent residence permit to join their families also increased by a third.

Seven hundred Ukrainian citizens applied before June 1 for a residence permit for labor activity, and about 400 hoped to receive a permit for permanent residence in Belarus in connection with marriage or family reunification.

This year, 160 foreign citizens applied to Belarusian authorities for the refugee status, 40% more than last year, Begun noted.