Finland embassy in Kyiv repatriates some staff, limits service capability

Finland’s Embassy in Kyiv has repatriated some of its staff members to Finland and limited its capabilities to assist people in distress abroad following the worsening security tension in Ukraine, said a press release of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Monday.

Earlier, on 11 February the government urged the people to leave Ukraine immediately and be refrained from travelling to Ukraine the country terming the situation in eastern Ukraine as very dangerous.

The embassy is on enhanced readiness and the staff will continue their work at the mission. The Embassy has adapted its activities as required in the current situation, and some of its staff members have been repatriated to Finland, said the ministry in Monday´s press release.

The change has been made based on a joint analysis of the situation, coordinated with the other Nordic countries.

The advice to leave the country remains in force and the Ministry recommends that travellers should leave the country urgently.

Commercial land and air connections are currently continuing in Ukraine and these should be used.

However, the situation may change rapidly. In a crisis, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has only limited capabilities to assist people in distress abroad, the ministry said.

At present, based on the travel details submitted to the Ministry, 120 Finns are staying in Ukraine.

However, it is estimated that the number of Finns in Ukraine is bigger than that.

After the level of the travel advice was raised, those who have submitted their travel details have been contacted by the Ministry through a text message and by telephone.

The ministry also urged the people to submit travel detail online at www.matkustusilmoitus.fi, if they are in Ukraine and have not yet submitted the travel details.

Finland gives its full support to Ukraine both as a nation and as part of the EU, defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders.

Finland supports Ukraine also through bilateral development cooperation and crisis management activities as well as by participating in mine clearance and by providing humanitarian assistance, the press release added.