RIGA, March 8 (LETA) - By March 7, Jelgava municipality has received 66 Ukrainian war refugees who have fled their country because of the war unleashed by Russia, LETA learned from the municipality.

The municipality has provided accommodation at hotel Zemgale, and on Monday Jelgava Mayor Andris Ravins (Greens/Farmer) and representatives of municipal institutions met with the refugees to inform them on the available assistance and support. Also those refugees who are staying with their friends or relatives in Jelgava are invited to contact the Municipal Operational Information Center.

According to the center's data, 66 refugees have sought shelter in Jelgava so far - ten men, 27 women and 29 children. All of them have been accommodated in hotel Zemgale and provided with food and hygiene products. The center's head Gints Reinsons said that there is information that there are more refugees in Jelgava staying with families, but their number of not known.

As the hotel is fully occupied now, the next potential place for accommodating refugees is hostel of Zalenieki Secondary School of Commerce and Crafts which can admit 40 people, and student hostel of the Latvian University of Agriculture which can admit up to 200 refugees.

As reported, on February 24, Russia unleashed a war in Ukraine, targeting not only military, but also residential areas, Belarusian army entered the territory of Ukraine on March 1. More than a million civilians have been forced to flee their home and country, and thousands have already arrived in Latvia.