Ljubljana - As a government regulation came into force on Thursday that activates the temporary protection of displaced persons act, the Interior Ministry said the number of refugees that Slovenia will provide protection to was currently not limited as it was impossible to assess their number.

According to the ministry, a large majority of Ukrainian refugees in Slovenia are currently accommodated at private addresses. This is expected to change in the coming days and reception capacities will increase accordingly.

The exact number of persons is also not given in the implementing decision of the Council of the EU, despite the fact that the temporary protection directive provides as a mandatory component for information received from member states on their reception capacities.

"In view of the above, there is currently no limit to the number of persons to whom Slovenia will offer temporary protection," the ministry said.

Temporary protection will be provided to persons displaced from Ukraine starting from 24 February 2022 as a result of Russian invasion.

They include citizens of Ukraine, stateless persons and third-country nationals who have been entitled to international protection or other equivalent national protection in Ukraine.

Also eligible are family members of these persons, and stateless persons and third-country nationals who are not citizens of Ukraine and have resided in Ukraine based on a valid permanent residence permit and are unable to return to their country of origin in a safe and permanent manner.

The temporary protection will be granted for a year and can be extended by six months up to two times.