Citizens of Russia remaining in Ukraine can, after the evacuation of the Russian embassy, return to their homeland or contact the consular offices of the Russian Federation in neighboring states. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, spoke about this on NTV on Thursday, February 24.
“We do not have diplomatic institutions working there. Regarding where the Russian citizens who are now there can apply, of course, we are talking about the opportunity to cross the border and apply to the relevant institutions on the territory of Russia. Or use our consular offices on the territory of neighboring states,” she said.
The evacuation of Russian diplomatic institutions from Ukraine ended on the night of February 24, RT reports.
Earlier in the day, the press attache of the Russian embassy in Kiev, Denis Golenko, said that the diplomats left the diplomatic mission in the capital of Ukraine, as well as the consulates general in Odessa, Kharkov, Lvov, Zvezda TV channel reported. They have already arrived in Russia.
Golenko also specified that “all the necessary evacuation measures have been taken in regard to the Russian diplomatic property.”
On the morning of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his special televised address, announced that a special operation would be carried out in the Donbass in order to protect the civilian population.
After that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of hitting military infrastructure and announced the introduction of martial law throughout the country.
At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Russian army did not launch air, missile or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine.
As Andrei Krasov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense, noted in an interview with Izvestia, the Russian president outlined the goals of the military operation, there is no talk of a war between Russia and Ukraine. The operation is carried out to save the life and health of residents of the DPR and LPR.
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Vasily Nebenzya also stressed that the events in Ukraine cannot be called a war, this is a special military operation. He also noted that the Russian authorities are still open for dialogue, but they do not intend to allow a new bloody massacre in the Donbass.
The situation in Donbass escalated on February 17. In the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, heavy shelling by Ukrainian security forces was reported, including from heavy weapons. The republics announced a general mobilization and evacuation of civilians to the territory of Russia.
On February 21, Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (LNR and DNR). Also, the Russian leader and the heads of both republics Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin signed agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. The documents were ratified the next day by both the republics themselves and the Russian State Duma.
Since 2014, the Kiev authorities have been conducting a military operation against the inhabitants of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup d’état and the new government in Ukraine. At the same time, Kiev blames Moscow for the current situation. Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the conflict.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
