Seattle area welcomed Ukrainians at a higher rate than most of U.S.

In the year since Russia invaded Ukraine, more than 12,000 people in the Seattle area have volunteered to sponsor Ukrainians seeking refuge.

• That made the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro one of the most welcoming places in the U.S. for Ukrainian refugees this past year, according to Homeland Security data.

By the numbers: Only the New York and Chicago areas had more people apply to host Ukrainians than Seattle.

• On a per capita basis, the Seattle metro had the most requests of any of the top areas.

What they're saying: Sarah Peterson, refugee coordinator in Washington's Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, said Washington has a "strong diaspora of Ukrainian community members" that predates the current war with Russia.

• She told Axios that members of that community "are now applying to support family and friends impacted by the war."

The broader community has also played a big role, she said, with many private groups offering to help support Ukrainians, as they did with recent refugees from Afghanistan.