Two Ukrainians evacuated to Doha on first commercial flight from Kabul

He said that the first commercial plane, after the transfer of power in Afghanistan to the Taliban, took off from Kabul International Airport on September 9. The Qatar Airways flight took more than a hundred people, with most of them being foreigners.

"On the instruction of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed with the Qatari side on the possibility of evacuating Ukrainian citizens on this flight. Our embassy in Tajikistan proposed that Ukrainians in Afghanistan leave for Doha and then return to Ukraine on commercial flights. Only two Ukrainians agreed: a mother and her minor child," Nikolenko said.

He said that in accordance with the agreement, the Qatari side provided them with transportation to Doha and temporary accommodation in Qatar free of charge.

According to Nikolenko, the flight arrived in Doha at 20:00 on September 9 and the Ukrainians passed PCR tests.

"If they get negative results, they will be able to return to Ukraine in the near future. Today our consul will visit our citizens to provide them with the necessary consular assistance," Nikolenko said.

Kuleba said at an online briefing on September 9 that 159 Ukrainian citizens who had requested evacuation from Afghanistan remained in the country.

op