- President Biden's administration said the US will take up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.
- Russia's ongoing attack on Ukrainian cities and civilians has triggered a humanitarian crisis.
- Over 10 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes since the war began a month ago.
The White House on Thursday announced a plan to resettle some of those who are fleeing their homes amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"Today, I announced that the United States will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia's aggression," President Joe Biden said on Twitter. "We're focused on reuniting families and providing refuge to those in harm's way."
Biden's administration also announced the US would provide more than $1 billion in humanitarian assistance for people affected by the war — funding medical supplies, food, water, and shelter, noting the particular concern of a rise in global food insecurity.
In the statement, the administration also said it expects that many Ukrainian refugees will choose to remain in Europe so they are "close to family and their homes in Ukraine."
The administration said those who flee to the US will be brought in through "through the full range of legal pathways" — that likely includes the country's official refugee program, as well as a variety of temporary visas.
The influx will test the nation's fragile refugee resettlement system, which was dramatically weakened under the Trump administration. Biden announced late last year that he would raise the annual refugee cap to 125,000 in 2022; so far, the US has taken in fewer than 6,500, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
The United Nations anticipated a devastating refugee crisis after Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24, but it has since said the situation exceeded the "worst-case scenario."
"The scale of human suffering and forced displacement due to the war far exceeds any worst-case scenario planning," António Vitorino, director-general of the UN's International Organization for Migration, said in a statement on Monday.
Over 10 million Ukrainians have been forced from their homes since the war began, according to the latest UN figures. More than 6.5 million of those are displaced within Ukraine, while nearly 3.7 million have fled into neighboring countries.
As Thursday marks one month since the war began, Russia's offensive seems to have stalled but its forces continue to bombard cities and civilian infrastructure.
The UN on Thursday said it has recorded 2,571 civilian casualties in Ukraine since February 24 — 977 people killed and 1,594 people injured. It added, however, that the actual death toll was likely "considerably higher."
And as the death toll mounts, so do accusations of war crimes from the international community.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said that the US has determined that Russian forces committed war crimes in Ukraine — the strongest condemnation yet amid widespread reports and allegations that Putin's military has targeted civilians.
"We've seen numerous credible reports of indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities," Blinken said in a statement.
He added: "We are committed to pursuing accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions."
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.