A humanitarian corridor was opened for the evacuation of Greek nationals from Mariupol on Wednesday as Russia’s troops encircle the Ukrainian port city.
The convoy comprised of 21 cars carrying 82 passengers and left Mariupol for Ukraine’s south-eastern Zaporizhzhya region before crossing into Moldova.
Consul General Manolis Andoulakis will remain in Mariupol, the heart of the ethnic Greek community dating back to the 18th century.
READ MORE: ‘People are scared’: Ukraine’s Greek communities in agony as war rages on.
At least 10 ethnic Greeks died last month by Russian air strikes close to Mariupol.
This evacuation comes as Greece is set to open 50,000 jobs in the tourism sector for Greek expats and Ukrainian refugees, SchengenVisaInfo.com has reported.
Greece’s Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, said in a press release on February 28 that over 50,000 surpluses were not covered by the country’s domestic market last year.
READ MORE: Thousands attend anti-war protest in Athens as Ukraine braces for all-out Russian attack.
“Could these people with dignity, with European contracts and collective labour contracts be absorbed and help in this sector,” he said, inferring that these positions could be filled by Ukrainian refugees and Greek expats.
Greece’s Minister of Civil Protection, Takis Theodorikakos, added on Tuesday that the entry of Ukrainian refugees to Greece will be eased in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Embassy.
READ MORE: Greece sending military, civilian aid to Ukraine.
In the meantime in Australia, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia visited the Embassy of Ukraine in Canberra and met with Ukraine’s Charge d’Affaires in Australia, Volodymyr Shalkivskyi, who informed him about the current situation in his homeland.
His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis and Archimandrite Christoforos were also in attendance at the meeting on Wednesday.
Archbishop Makarios briefed Mr Shalkivskyi on his talks with Australian Government officials, while reaffirming the position of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in favour of peace.
