A total of 1,032 Ukrainians have arrived in Greece since Russia’s invasion began five days ago, authorities said on Monday.
36 of these Ukrainian refugees arrived in Athens via bus on Monday morning, after first crossing into Romania following Russia’s invasion.
In a telephone call with Ukraine’s Ambassador to Greece, Sergii Shutenko, the Greek Citizen Protection Minister, Takis Theodorikakos, vowed that Greek authorities would take all the necessary measures to facilitate the Ukrainian refugees.
READ MORE: ‘People are scared’: Ukraine’s Greek communities in agony as war rages on.
This comes amid reports from Ukrainian officials that Russian artillery bombarded residential districts of Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv on Monday, killing possibly dozens of people.
The strike came as Ukraine and Russia were meeting for peace talks on the border with Belarus. ABC News reports that no immediate agreements on a ceasefire were made.
READ MORE: Greece sending military, civilian aid to Ukraine.
Greece evacuates 26 Greeks and dependents from Odessa:
The arrival of these refugees comes as the Greek Consulate General in Odessa evacuated a total of 26 Greek citizens and their family members from the Ukrainian port city on Monday.
According to a statement, the Consulate proposed the evacuation, called operation ‘Nostos 2,’ due to the ongoing critical situation in Ukraine. The plan was approved by the Foreign Ministry in Athens.
READ MORE: World leaders react as Ukraine loses control of Chernobyl to Russian forces.
The 26 evacuees were accompanied by Consul General Dimitris Dochtsis to Moldova, where they were received by Greek Ambassador to Romania, Sofia Grammata.
Mr Dochtsis has since returned to Odessa to continue his mission there.
Ukraine’s EU membership appeal:
As the crisis grows in Ukraine, Greece has continued to express its solidarity with the country.
In fact, Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, released a statement on social media on Monday to express his support for Ukraine’s European prospects following the appeal of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for immediate European Union membership.
“Full solidarity with President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. We welcome Ukraine’s EU choice; they are one of us,” Mitsotakis said on Twitter.
Greece also sent two more Greek Airforce C-130 transport planes to Ukraine on Monday. They were carrying additional military equipment.
READ MORE: Turkish FM slams Greece over ‘defamation’ of Turkey amid Ukraine’s invasion.
