Migrants are fleeing Russia and Belarus in search of a better life in the European Union at an accelerated rate, according to the bloc’s border protection agency.

The number of migrants crossing into the EU from the two countries increased dramatically by 192 per cent last year, according to Frontex.

About 17,000 unauthorised migrants crossed the bloc’s eastern land borders, with the primary nationalities being Ukrainian, Ethiopian and Somali.

This is despite the overall number of illegal migrants entering the EU dropping by 38 per cent – the lowest level since 2021.