The committee to repatriate Libya nationals in Ukraine announced that Wednesday, 16 March will be the last date for evacuations.
The committee said, according to the Libya Embassy in Ukraine, that it “absolves itself of responsibility for any consequences that may result from the desire of some citizens to remain inside Ukraine, or neighbouring countries with this announcement.”
On 25 February, the Libyan Embassy began evacuation procedures. The committee supervising the departure of citizens has allocated special gathering locations to start the repatriation process.
It was determined that Libya citizens in eastern Ukrainian cities would move to the capital, Kyiv, and from there to the Slovak border. For the nearby cities, west of Kyiv, the meeting point is the city of Chorte Kyiv.
On Thursday, the Libyan Foreign Ministry said it has evacuated over 1,500 citizens from Ukraine, amid Russia’s military assault on the country.
The ministry said in a statement that they are in “full coordination” with the Libyan Embassy in Ukraine. Nationals were evacuated from Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
The statement added that the evacuations were made via Ukraine’s neighbouring countries Poland, Slovakia, and Romania.
On 2 March, the Charge d’Affairs of the Libyan Embassy, Adel Bin Issa stated that more than 1,500 Libyan nationals who were stuck in Ukraine, have managed to cross the borders.
“The number of stranded Libyans who crossed the European borders (Slovakia, Poland, and Romania) through the embassy, or on their own until today has exceeded 1,500 citizens, and they are in good health,” Bin Issa added.
Bin Issa said the Libyan Embassy in Ukraine has been temporarily moved from Kyiv, to the western city of Lviv, near the Polish border.
He added that the move was a result of the military operations, and the deterioration of the situation in Kyiv.
Libya’s Foreign Ministry had previously advised citizens residing in Ukraine to leave, and called for those planning to travel to postpone their trips at this time. The Ministry’s advice comes against the backdrop of tensions amid Russian advances in the country.
The Ministry has urged all citizens currently in Ukraine, to communicate with members of the repatriation committee in the Embassy in Slovakia. This is to ensure they are registered.
The Embassy called on its citizens residing in Ukraine to communicate with it on the emergency numbers provided, or through its official website for more instructions and advice.