Poland takes in refugees

Former Vice President Mike Pence and former second lady Karen Pence visited the Polish border near Ukraine on Thursday with Samaritan’s Purse. Pence spoke with refugees and urged Americans to donate to humanitarian organizations. The United Nations estimated Thursday that 1.9 million Ukrainians have been displaced within their country and 2.3 million more have fled, mostly to Poland, as Russian missiles hit civilian targets like neighborhoods and hospitals.

Has Russia committed war crimes? Vice President Kamala Harris also visited Poland on Thursday to reassure NATO allies about U.S. support and to meet with refugees. At a news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Harris supported an investigation into whether Russian President Vladimir Putin and his army have committed war crimes. She stopped short of accusing Putin, but said the world would be watching the investigation. Poland announced Wednesday it would donate fighter jets to Ukraine, but it leaked the proposal before arranging the transfer with the U.S. The Pentagon rejected the donation due to transportation difficulties and the risk of escalating the conflict.

Dig deeper: Read Jenny Lind Schmitt’s front-line report in WORLD Magazine on how Poles are welcoming Ukrainians.