Indonesian Citizens In Chernihiv Testify With Vibrating Voices: Russian Bombs Never Stop, Feel Close To Death

One of the Indonesian citizens who was successfully evacuated from Chernihiv, Iskandar (left). (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno confirmed that nine Indonesian citizens trapped in Chernihiv, Ukraine, were successfully evacuated to Poland on Friday.

After a long 15-hour journey from Chernihiv, they were successfully evacuated to Lviv, to then cross the border to Poland later today.

One of the Indonesian citizens who survived and was successfully evacuated was Iskandar. With a trembling voice he said, along with eight other people they managed to get out of Chernihiv on March 17 yesterday.

"Thanks to Mr. President, Mrs. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ambassador to Ukraine, Mrs. Ambassador to Poland, Head of BIN and Athan. Without the hard work of ladies and gentlemen, we would not be here," he said in a trembling voice from within. a car carrying a group of Indonesian citizens to Poland, during a virtual press statement Friday evening March 18.

"I'm sorry that we've been giving you a lot of trouble, a lot of trouble. While in Chernihiv we were really frustrated, day and night the bombs never stopped. We felt close to death. Luckily, we were from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from Athan, so we didn't feel alone," he said.

As previously reported, Foreign Minister Retno confirmed that nine Indonesian citizens trapped in Chernihiv, Ukraine, were successfully evacuated to Poland on Friday.

"Alhamdulillah, after going through very hard and long efforts, we managed to evacuate nine Indonesian citizens from Chernihiv," said Foreign Minister Retno.

With the successful evacuation of nine Indonesian citizens from Chernihiv, a total of 11 Indonesian citizens are currently in the Polish safe zone. Those who will then undergo a medical examination, before being flown to Indonesia on 20 March.

A total of 133 Indonesian citizens in Ukraine were successfully evacuated. Meanwhile, 23 others chose to stay because they were married to Ukrainian citizens and the other nine were essential staff of the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv currently operating from Lviv.