Indonesian Government Plans To Evacuate Indonesian Citizens In Ukraine To Poland Or Romania

Director of the Protection of Indonesian Citizens (PWNI) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha. (Photo: ANTARA/HO-Kemenlu RI)

JAKARTA - Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Indonesian Legal Entities (BHI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha said Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Ukraine will be evacuated to Poland and Romania by observing the development of the situation on the ground.

"There are already 82 Indonesian citizens who have gathered at the Indonesian Embassy in Kiev as a location point for evacuation. Indonesian citizens who are at the Indonesian Embassy in Kiev and Indonesian citizens who are still outside the Indonesian Embassy in Kiev are also in a safe and healthy condition. For Indonesian citizens who are still outside the Indonesian Embassy in Kiev, we have prepared a team to immediately pick them up to immediately join the group that will leave Ukraine for Poland and Romania," said Judha Nugraha at a press briefing in Jakarta, Saturday.

Currently, he continued, Poland is still opening the border gate for refugees. Refugees can stay in Poland for 15 days.

The latest data is currently the total number of Indonesian citizens residing in Ukraine is 153 people, which include Kyiv (82 people), Odesa (25 people), Chernihiv (9 people), Kharkiv (4 people), Lviv (3 people).

“We picked up Indonesian citizens in Odesa, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv. Regarding 4 Indonesian citizens in Kharkiv and 9 Indonesian citizens in Chernihiv, the current situation, especially in the Chernihiv area, has become a battlefield and currently they live with their respective employers and are waiting for a safer situation. At first we wanted to pick them up but because the situation didn't allow for them, we asked them to stay temporarily in the bunker that had been prepared while waiting for the pick-up team, "he said.

Judha said the evacuation of Indonesian citizens to safe locations, namely Poland and Romania, would be carried out as soon as possible by observing the development of the situation on the ground.

"We will move when there is a safe route for our citizens to Poland and Romania. In addition, the NOTAM (notice from the aviation authority) states that civil aviation is currently prohibited in Ukraine,” said Judha.

In the evacuation process, he continued, his party had formed a team consisting of elements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the TNI and had prepared aircraft.

"We are preparing evacuation procedures to get out of Ukraine, and we continue to establish communication from various parties to ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens," said Judha.

He asked all Indonesian citizens in Ukraine to remain calm and not panic.