Evacuation of Mariupol consulate general in progress, diplomats report

An operation to evacuate the Greek Consulate General in Mariupol of some of its staff and Greek citizens that are in the area was in progress on Wednesday, diplomatic sources reported. The convoy was made up to 21 cars carrying 82 people, led by Ambassador Fragkiskos Kostellenos.

According to the same sources, it is difficult for the convoy to always stay together and the party is using its own means of transport. Apart from consulate staff, the evacuees include all the journalists housed at the consulate and Greek citizens who have decided to leave due to the security situation in Mariupol and also because the Russian side announced that a humanitarian corridor will open on Wednesday for civilians leaving Mariupol to head west.

The plan is for the convoy to go to the city of Zaporizhzhia and then, depending on the prevailing conditions, continue to the Moldovan border, where they will be met by a team from the Greek Embassy in Bucharest, led by Ambassador Sofia Grammata, which will provide all possible assistance. Mariupol Consul General Manolis Androulakis will remain at the consulate, which will continue to operate.

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou contacts Ukrainian ambassador to Greece

President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Wednesday spoke on the telephone with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Greece Sergii Shutenko, who briefed her on the latest developments on the war front in Ukraine.

Among others, the ambassador referred to the hardship endured by Greeks in Mariupol and the operation to evacuate the Greek General Consulate in the area, thanking the president for Greece’s full and unequivocal support for Ukraine.

Sakellaropoulou expressed the complete support of the Greek people for Ukraine and its heroic fight for its freedom, its European course and for democratic and universal values. She noted that Greeks were deeply moved by resistance of the Ukrainian people, which united humanity against the Russian aggression and its violent dispute of the sovereignty of an independent state.

The Ukrainian ambassador asked for the Greek state’s assistance in the reception of Ukrainian refugees that have already started to arrive in Greece.

President Sakellaropoulou contacted the president of the Hotel Chamber of Greece Alexandros Vasilikos, who agreed to assist and told her that steps were already being taken in this direction.