Malé, Maldives – Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that 20 Maldivians are still in Ukraine as Russia starts military attacks.
The 20 Maldivians are split across three cities including 5 in Kharkiv closest to the Russian border. Reports state that these 5 students were unable to depart from Ukraine to the Maldives today with 25 of the other Maldivians living in Kharkiv due to visa issues.
Fourteen Maldivian students are currently in Ivano-Frankivsk.
While Ukraine has declared martial law, Russia has bombed multiple airports including Kharkiv military airport, Kyiv Boryspil and Ivano-Frankivsk.
Maldives Foreign Ministry reports that they are monitoring the situation closely through the closest diplomatic mission located in Germany.
A group of 34 students in Kharkiv, Ukraine, urged the Maldivian government to evacuate them as the city is the nearest to the Russian border 10 days ago on 15 February 2022.
Foreign Ministry stated on the same day that Maldivians in Ukraine will be provided with financial assistance to return to the Maldives via commercial flights since borders are open.
