MFA Ukraine refutes report of Ukrainian plane “hijacked” in Afghanistan

8/24/2021 2:14:31 PM

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Rumors spread by certain media about the alleged hijacking of a Ukrainian plane in Kabul are not true as all aircraft involved in the evacuation of Ukrainians have safely returned home.

That's according to Oleh Nikolenko, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who gave a comment to Ukrinform.

"There are no captured Ukrainian planes in Kabul or elsewhere. The information about a 'hijacked plane' that is being circulated by some media outlets is not true," the spokesman said.

Nikolenko stressed that all airplanes that our state employed to evacuate citizens from Afghanistan had safely landed in Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that Deputy Foreign Minister Eugene Enin, quoted by certain media, explained in general terms the unprecedented level of difficulties that diplomats confronted while extracting Ukrainians from Afghanistan.

According to him, it should be understood that the situation at the airport is close to chaos as many are trying to catch at least some opportunity to flee the country, so it was necessary to ensure that the right people board the right plane and return home safely.

Read also: No servicemen of Armed Forces of Ukraine in Afghanistan – Defense Ministry

"The Foreign Ministry remains in touch with Ukrainians who are still in Afghanistan, and is working on possible safe ways to evacuate them," Nikolenko said.

At the same time, the spokesman recalled that three evacuation flights had been made so far, which evacuated 256 people.

Earlier, certain media reported, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Eugene Enin, that unidentified gunmen at the Kabul Airport last Sunday had allegedly hijacked a Ukrainian plane set to evacuate citizens from Afghanistan.

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