11 Malaysians Are Still Stuck In Ukraine & Taking Shelter As Russia Starts Its Invasion
The group will have to travel by road to Poland to evacuate because Ukraine's airspace has been closed to civilian flights.
By Sabrina Zainal — 25 Feb 2022, 04:25 PM
There are 11 Malaysians still stuck in Ukraine, which is currently under attack by Russian troops
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that eight of them are seeking shelter at the Malaysian Embassy in Kyiv while their evacuation is in process. The remaining three are outside the Ukrainian capital preparing to leave.
"Our citizens in Ukraine are safe. I would like to inform that the interest of our people is a top priority for Malaysia, which is why we have taken immediate action to evacuate them," he announced in a tweet yesterday, 24 February.
At the end of his two-day official visit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, yesterday, he said, "The priority of the government is the safety of Malaysians."
There are 23 Malaysians registered with the mission, however, 12 have already made it back home, according to Malay Mail.
Ukrainian military vehicles move past Independence square in central Kyiv on 24 February 2022.
Image via AFP via The Asean PostThe Malaysians still in Ukraine will have to travel by road to Poland because the country's airspace has been closed to civilian flights
The evacuation of the group may take about 10 hours covering 782 kilometres.
The Malaysian Embassy in Kyiv has informed its counterpart in Warsaw to facilitate the border crossing.
The closure of Ukrainian airspace was due to "high risk" to civil aviation. A notice by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has extended its airspace restriction to more countries in Eastern Europe as Russia continued its military offensive in Ukraine.
The Star reported that the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) will continue to closely monitor the situation and communicate with their operators to ensure the civil aviation industry would be well-informed at all times.
Hundreds of people, including many women and children, take shelter inside a metro station as explosions are heard in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine, on 24 February 2022.
Image via Salwan Georges/The Washington Post
Cars drive away from Kyiv on 24 February after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military operation.
Image via Reuters via Washington PostWisma Putra, on 14 February, had urged Malaysians in Ukraine to register with the embassy in Kyiv due to the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia
At the time, the ministry had stated that it is also closely monitoring developments in and around Ukraine, especially concerning the Malaysian nationals registered with it, which included its nine staff members and their dependants.
Malaysians requiring consular assistance in Ukraine are advised to contact the Malaysian Embassy in Kyiv:
Tel: +380 442 855 271 / +380 988 387 885 (after working hours)
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
