Ukraine Evacuates 34 People from Syria, Including 15 Children

On Saturday, December 21, a successful evacuation operation was carried out by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), resulting in the safe return of 34 individuals from Syria. Among those evacuated were 31 Ukrainian citizens and three Syrian nationals, who are relatives of Ukrainians with legal rights to enter Ukraine.

According to the HUR’s statement on Telegram, the operation took place under the direction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The evacuees were transported from Syria through Lebanon.

The group included 15 children. The evacuees have already landed at Chișinău International Airport in Moldova and are set to continue their journey to Ukraine.

In addition to acknowledging the support of the Lebanese authorities, Ukraine expressed gratitude to Dr. Nadji Hammoud, the General Manager of Youth and Sports Institutions in Lebanon, and the Ukrainian airline SkyUp for their ongoing assistance in the mission. The Moldovan authorities were also thanked for their cooperation in facilitating the evacuation.

The operation is part of a broader effort by the Ukrainian government to assist its citizens abroad. Since August 2024, HUR and MFA, under President Zelenskyy’s directives, have successfully evacuated 302 people from Lebanon in four separate operations, including 217 Ukrainians and 85 foreign nationals.