Students in Sumy, Ukraine are entering an air-raid shelter. (Video provided to Newsgd.com)
The Chinese Embassy in Kiev issued a notice on February 24, 2022 in preparation for the evacuation of Chinese nationals from Ukraine. The embassy is preparing charter flights and asking the Chinese nationals to register their information if they are looking to leave the country.
“I filled up the registration form immediately. I’m now waiting for further notice while packing my bags,” said Zhao, a Chinese student in Sumy, a city in north-eastern Ukraine.
In addition to the evacuation notice, the embassy issued two security alerts for Chinese citizens and companies in one day. “The embassy is taking care of us,” Zhao said.
“I think I saw bombs fly over my head”
Zhao was woken up at 3:00 or 4:00 AM, local time on February 24 by his classmate’s phone call. Then he read the news about the deteriorating situation in Ukraine.
“I put on some clothes and rushed outside. There were already lots of students waiting outside of the dormitory,” Zhao recalled, “I think I saw bombs fly over my head and I could hear the explosion.”
Zhao and other students were then led to an air-raid shelter. They stayed there until noon.
Zhao’s schoolmates are waiting outside of the dormitory. (Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
After leaving the shelter, Zhao headed for a supermarket. “I saw long queues in front of banks. People were driving to the west. And the supermarket was packed with people,” Zhao said.
People are queuing in front of a bank in Sumy, Ukraine. (Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
Crowd in a supermarket in Sumy, Ukraine. (Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
In Zhao’s room, a Chinese national flag hangs in front of the window. “It provides a sense of safety,” Zhao told the reporter. In a statement on February 24, the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine reminded Chinese nationals to display the Chinese national flag on their vehicles if they need to drive anywhere.
Evacuation registration form for Chinese nationals in Ukraine. (Source/Chinese Embassy in Ukraine)
Author | Lydia Liu
Editor | Wing, Steven, Jasmine, Jerry
