The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will allow Ukrainians in the United States to remain in the country as part of humanitarian aid, CNN reports.

"Russia's deliberate and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has led to an ongoing war, senseless violence" that has forced Ukrainians "to seek refuge in other countries. In these extraordinary times, we will continue to offer our support and protection to Ukrainian citizens in the United States," the TV channel quotes the statement of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

Ukraine has been included in the list of countries whose citizens are granted temporary protected status (TPS). This status allows citizens of these countries to remain in the United States, as they would encounter difficulties when returning to their homeland.

Thus, extending TPS to Ukrainians who have been issued temporary visas will protect them from deportation when those visas expire.

It is noted that the provision of TPS to Ukraine will be valid for 18 months.

Earlier, a group of U.S. lawmakers called on the U.S. administration to grant temporary protected status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the United States.

"Forcing Ukrainian citizens to return to Ukraine [...] would be contrary to American values and our national security interests," the senators said in their letter.