[fullmetal]

Also, it's fair to say that we don't know how many of these people went "voluntarily," i.e. they would have rather stayed safe in their homes, but given the status of the war, they preferred to go to a refugee camp in Russia or Russia-occupied territory than a refugee camp in Western Ukraine or Poland.  I am hoping that the vast majority of people are ethnically and linguistically Russian and that Russia is treating them okay.  Even if that's true, however, it seems likely that there is a very substantial population of civilian prisoners being held against their will in bad conditions.

I bet the ethnic Russians were allowed to stay and control the area whereas the ethnic Ukrainians were deported to wrest control of the land away from Ukraine.

[fullmetal]

Also, it's fair to say that we don't know how many of these people went "voluntarily," i.e. they would have rather stayed safe in their homes, but given the status of the war, they preferred to go to a refugee camp in Russia or Russia-occupied territory than a refugee camp in Western Ukraine or Poland.  I am hoping that the vast majority of people are ethnically and linguistically Russian and that Russia is treating them okay.  Even if that's true, however, it seems likely that there is a very substantial population of civilian prisoners being held against their will in bad conditions.

I bet the ethnic Russians were allowed to stay and control the area whereas the ethnic Ukrainians were deported to wrest control of the land away from Ukraine.