99 Indonesian Citizens Who Are Successfully Evacuated Will Be Returned To Indonesia, Ambassadors And Permanent Staff In Ukraine

Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The government plans to repatriate Indonesian citizens (WNI) who have been successfully evacuated from Ukraine to two safe locations, while the Ambassador and staff are said to be staying in Kyiv.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs succeeded in evacuating 99 Indonesian citizens from Ukraine, temporarily in two safe locations in Romania and Poland, said Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi.

"99 Indonesian citizens have left Ukraine, once again, including 5 Indonesian citizens who evacuated independently. And now they are at two safe points, namely in Bucharest, Romania and in Rzeszow, Poland", said Foreign Minister Retno in a virtual press statement on Tuesday, March 1st.

Foreign Minister Retno further explained the next step is to take the air route, to pick up the Indonesian citizens who are at the two points, with the plan being finalized.

"So once again, after the evacuees are safe at these two points, the next step is to pick them up by plane to return to Indonesia", said Foreign Minister Retno.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Retno also hoped for prayer support, so that all evacuated Indonesians could arrive safely in the country.

As previously reported, as many as 99 Indonesian citizens were successfully evacuated gradually and separately from Ukraine to Poland and Romania, including five foreigners who were family members of Indonesian citizens.

Then, 24 Indonesian citizens chose to stay in Ukraine because they were married to residents. Meanwhile, the other 13 Indonesian citizens, four in Kharkiv and nine in Chernihiv have yet to be evacuated, due to the ongoing ground fighting.

Separately, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah, ensured that, along with the evacuation process and the repatriation plan, the Indonesian Ambassador and some staff would remain in Ukraine.

"The ambassador with several essential staff remains in Ukraine", she wrote in a text message when confirmed by VOI.