As A Gathering Point For Indonesian Citizens, The Indonesian Embassy In Kyiv Receives Guard From Ukrainian Authorities

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv had implemented a contingency plan related to the Russian attack in eastern Ukraine, by prioritizing the safety of Indonesian citizens in Ukraine.

Director of the Protection of Indonesian Citizens, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Judha Nugraha said that the safety of Indonesian citizens was a priority, ensuring they were in a safe location, the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv.

"We will see the progress. We evaluate minute by minute, with the previous patterns," said Judha in a virtual press statement Thursday, February 24.

Asked about the security at the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv, as a gathering place for Indonesian citizens, Judha said he also received support from the Ukrainian authorities in the midst of the escalation.

"As a diplomatic compound or diplomatic complex, it is the responsibility of the Ukrainian authorities to provide protection there. From the information we have received, there is indeed such a guard, and we hope that as a diplomatic premise, it can be a safe place for our Indonesian citizens to gather, So we will coordinate with related parties," said Judha.

Judha further explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv managed to establish communication with 138 Indonesian citizens in Ukraine, the majority of whom are in Kyiv and Odessa. According to him, the results of the communication are currently Indonesian citizens are still in a safe condition and remain calm.

"In accordance with the contingency plan, we ask Indonesian citizens to gather at the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv. For those who are having difficulties, they can immediately contact the emergency hotline provided by our Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv," he explained.

"We are working with some of our closest representatives, such as the Indonesian Embassy in Warsaw, the Indonesian Embassy in Bratislava, the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, and the Indonesian Embassy in Bucharest, to develop a contingency plan to provide protection for our citizens," he continued.

Judha explained, the contingency plan has been determined based on the coordination between the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv and the center, consisting of various types of emergency situations. Starting from Siaga III, Siaga II, Siaga I. For each status, there are several steps that have been prepared by both representatives and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"In eastern Ukraine there are 11 Indonesian citizens in the region, such as Lugansk and Donetsk. We ask them to approach the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv. However, if this is not possible, according to the contingency plan, there are points that have been determined as gathering points in the nearest cities," he said.

"While in Odessa, we were also monitoring, we will see the situation. If it is not possible to go to Kyiv, we will ask to stay first while looking for another safe route. We will coordinate with relevant parties to ensure a safe route for evacuation of our citizens," concluded Judha.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized special military operations in the Donbass region of Eastern Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning and told the Ukrainian military to lay down its weapons and go home.

In a special televised address on Russian state TV, President Putin said Russia had no choice but to defend itself against what he said were threats emanating from modern Ukraine.

The Russian leader said Moscow had no choice but to launch the operation, the scope of which was not immediately clear.

"I have decided to carry out a special military operation," said President Putin.

To note, Russian missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities, with local authorities reporting troop lines flowed across its border into the eastern regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Lugansk, landing by the sea in the southern cities of Odessa and Mariupol. Explosions were heard before dawn in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Gunfire rang out near the main airport and sirens blared throughout the city.