New York is prepared to welcome Ukrainian refugees after federal officials approved special status for nationals leaving the country amid the Russian invasion, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday evening.

The Department of Homeland Security earlier in the day granted temporary protected status to Ukrainians, making it easier for them to enter the United States and receive refugee status.

New York state is home to the largest Ukrainian community in the United States. It's estimated the crisis has created an exodus of more than 1 million people from the country.

Russia's unjustified and unprovoked attack on the sovereign and democratic country of Ukraine has led to human rights abuses, senseless violence against innocent civilians and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has created more than one million refugees in only a week," Hochul said. "As I've said before, with the Statue of Liberty standing tall in our harbor, New York stands ready to open our arms and provide a safe haven to all Ukrainians."

New York previously provided refugee support for Afghans leaving their country following the collapse of the government and the takeover by the Taliban.

Hochul late last month sought to cut off state investment and financial ties to Russian interests and entities in New York, including an end to state contracts, as international sanctions took effect.

Comptroller Tom DiNapoli this week moved to curtail pension fund investment in Russian-backed entities as well and study ways of divesting from firms with ties to the country. Dozens of state lawmakers on Thursday urged DiNapoli to expedite the divestment process.

"New York’s economy is the 10th largest in the world, and we should use our economic leverage to support the effort to punish Putin and stop Russian aggression in Ukraine,” said Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick. “The actions taken so far by the Comptroller are important first steps in divesting from Russian interests, but they do not go far enough. We must take a stand against Vladimir Putin’s murderous invasion of Ukraine by making the Russian Federation a pariah state and supporting the international effort to isolate and degrade Russia’s economy until the war is ended and Ukraine’s sovereignty is restored."