Preparations underway for evacuation of Ukrainians from Afghanistan - Kuleba

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this at an online briefing on Friday, August 13, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We have already started working out possible ways of evacuation from Afghanistan if such appeals are received. So far, Ukrainian citizens have not appealed to the Foreign Ministry to evacuate them from Afghanistan, but I emphasize once again that we work 24/7 and are ready to help our citizens in Afghanistan with the means available to us," Kuleba said.

He stressed that for him personally the evacuation of Ukrainians abroad is an absolute priority, and therefore the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has already launched appropriate mechanisms, including by advising citizens to refrain from traveling to Afghanistan, and those who are already in this country were recommended to leave its territory immediately.

According to the ministry, there are between 50 and 100 Ukrainians in Afghanistan.

Kuleba also called on compatriots in Afghanistan to contact the Ukrainian Embassy in Tajikistan and inform it about their whereabouts.

According to Kuleba, Afghanistan is a unique country in which it is very difficult to predict the development of the security situation.

He also mentioned friendly relations between Ukraine and Afghanistan and their common tragedy - the downing of Flight PS752 over Tehran on January 8, 2020.

"Therefore, we undoubtedly wish the Afghan people, first of all, peace, and then stability, which is impossible without the cessation of hostilities," Kuleba said.

Earlier reports said that the Pentagon had decided to send about 3,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to ensure the evacuation of diplomats and other U.S. citizens.

After the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, Taliban militants are rapidly expanding their sphere of influence in the country. In the past few days, Taliban fighters have overrun ten provincial capitals in Afghanistan.

op