A complex operation to evacuate Ukrainian citizens from Syria ended on New Year's Eve. This is reported on the official website of the President of Ukraine.
Two women and seven children who were in refugee camps in northeastern Syria returned to the family. The plan for their return was agreed and coordinated personally by Vladimir Zelensky.
In June 2019, a special working group was created, which included representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine. In particular, specialists checked citizens in Syria for possible connections with members of the international terrorist organization "Islamic State". According to the results of long-term checks, the counter-intelligence of the SBU did not find facts of involvement of these citizens in terrorist activities.
In October of the same year, the plan of evacuation measures proposed by the Ukrainian authorities was approved by the head of state, but due to the worsening of the military-political situation and the security situation on the territory of Syria, the evacuation of Ukrainians had to be postponed.
Also, the possibility of picking up Ukrainians was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the spread of the coronavirus in the territory of Syria and Iraq, significant restrictions were introduced, in particular, borders were closed and air traffic was suspended.
The return to the evacuation process became possible only at the end of 2020, when the security situation and the epidemic situation in these countries stabilized.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi has repeatedly stated that the Ukrainian state always remembers its citizens detained in other countries and is ready to fight for every Ukrainian so that everyone can return home safely.
"Because for us a person is the highest value," the president emphasized.
Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Roman Mashovets noted that the freed women and children were in the Syrian camps in terrible conditions.
"Thank you to everyone who was involved in this successful operation. Those who risked their lives in the combat conditions of northern Syria and Iraq. I also want to note the professional work of the Intelligence Committee under the President of Ukraine, which carried out clear interagency coordination," Mashovets said.
Representatives of the authorities assured that work on the release of other Ukrainians in Syrian camps will continue.
