You're reading: Government to evacuate 35,000 Ukrainians stuck abroad after borders shut down

The Ukrainian government will evacuate 35,479 citizens who are stuck abroad after the country’s borders shut down on March 17, according to Vladyslav Krykliy, Ukraine’s infrastructure minister.

The evacuation will take 175 special flights and cost the government $4.16 million.

Ukrainians abroad who want to come home need to contact local Ukrainian embassies to learn about their evacuation options.

Since March 17, Ukrainian air transportation and railroad connection has been halted through April 3. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in two weeks the government will assess the situation and may reopen the borders.

Since March 16, the country is also closed for all foreign nationals without temporary or permanent residency.

Drastic measures come as a response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As of March 18, over 200,000 people worldwide have been tested positive for COVID-19 in 143 countries. Over 8,000 people have died.

Ukraine so far has seen 14 cases and two deaths, but tested only over 500 people.

Out of the 230 border crossing points controlled by Ukraine, 123 remain open for freight transportation. A total of 42 border crossing points are open for Ukrainians willing to return home independently. However, they are not allowed to cross the border on foot.

In a special address to the nation on March 17, Zelensky asked Ukrainians remaining abroad to register in the government system called Drug (Friend), online or via an app. Registering and providing one’s location helps the government plan charter flights. The app can be downloaded in App Store and Google Play.

The foreign ministry has issued a list of cities from which Ukrainians can return home for free or at a substantial reduction of costs. They include, by plane: Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Berlin and Vienna. By train: Warsaw, Przemysl, Berlin, Vienna, Vilnius and Riga.

Ukraine will also provide flights from Prague and Bratislava to Poland, from which Ukrainians will board a train.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said on March 18 that the government partnered with SkyUp airlines to return Ukrainians from 14 cities at low cost prices.

Kuleba said that SkyUp will schedule special flights with discounted rates from the following cities – Paris, Alicante, Berlin, Stockholm, Vienna, Warsaw, Prague, Tbilisi, Lisbon, Munich, Naples, Frankfurt, Tallinn, Zurich, Istanbul, Barcelona and ​​London. Tickets for the flights from these cities to Kyiv are available on the SkyUp’s website, according to Kuleba.

SkyUp has previously evacuated Ukrainians and foreigners from Wuhan on Feb. 20, and from Italy on March 15.

Ukraine’s biggest carrier, Ukraine International Airlines, will also operate charter flights to return Ukrainians home at discount prices.

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