Most Chinese nationals have now left Ukraine, remainder urged to go ‘as soon as possible’

Name: Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war
Uploaded: 2022-03-07T04:24:35.000Z
Duration: 4 min 33 s
Description: Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war

China’s embassy in Kyiv said nearly all of its 6,000 citizens in the war-torn country have been evacuated, as shelling intensifies

Some Chinese people have reported hostility or violence from Ukrainians over their government’s perceived support of Moscow

1-MIN READ1-MIN

China’s embassy in Ukraine says the tense situation continues to deteriorate. Photo: AP

Agence France-Presse

Published: 12:24pm, 7 Mar 2022Updated: 12:42pm, 9 Mar 2022

Most of China’s around 6,000 citizens in Ukraine have been evacuated, as Russia steps up its shelling of multiple cities.

Beijing’s embassy in Kyiv made the announcement via social media on Monday and urged remaining Chinese nationals to leave the country as soon as possible. “At present, the tense situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate,” it said.

04:33

Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war

Unlike many other countries, China waited until after war broke out on February 24 before telling its citizens to evacuate.

In the weeks leading up to the conflict, Chinese state media dismissed US warnings of an imminent Russian invasion. Beijing has walked a diplomatic tightrope during the crisis, refusing to condemn its close ally Russia, which has been targeted by a barrage of international sanctions.

Some Chinese citizens reported hostility or violence from locals in Ukraine over the Chinese government’s perceived support of Moscow.

Last week, China’s foreign ministry said it had helped around 3,000 Chinese nationals to evacuate, mostly via land transport after Ukraine closed its airspace. The first government-chartered evacuation flight landed in China on Saturday from Romania.