Turkish nationals evacuated from Ukraine arrive in Turkiye

EDIRNE, Turkiye

A group of 184 Turkish nationals, mostly students evacuated from Ukraine, arrived in Turkiye through the Turkish Foreign Ministry's coordination on Monday.

Evacuated Turkish nationals entered the country through the northwestern Hamzabeyli Border Gate at the Turkish-Bulgarian border.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Seckin Ali Bakimci, who was in Ukraine for university education, thanked the Foreign Ministry for close contact before and during the evacuation process.

Another student from Odessa, Erhan Yildiz, also said a missile fell near the dormitory where he was staying.

"Then, we heard that soldiers entered the airport and its surroundings. ... We immediately went to the shelters in the dorm.

"Ukrainian soldiers made hand signals indicating that we should turn off the lights and not go out," he added.

Yildiz said that during that time, the Turkish Consulate was in constant contact with them.

Savas Ates, who worked in Ukraine, said many buses were set to come to Turkiye.

"Thanks to this consulate, thanks to Turkiye, of course, the evacuation continues. The only problem is Kyiv, I think, there is no evacuation situation there. All students are in the shelter as far as I know.

"They (Russian forces) even shoot at Turkish people, and our friends were shot, some are now in the hospital," Ates added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military intervention last Thursday, days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine.

At least 368,000 Ukrainians have fled to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and other countries since then, according to the UN refugee agency.

Western powers have imposed harsh financial sanctions on Moscow, and decided to supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition.