Twenty-five more Filipinos evacuate to Moldova amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Image from DFA Usec. Sarah Lou Arriola’s Twitter
MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-five more Filipinos have evacuated to Moldova amid the ongoing bombardment of Ukraine by Russia, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said Thursday.
DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said that the evacuees were being directed to Bucharest, Romania to return back to the Philippines.
“The 25 Filipinos evacuated from Ukraine to Moldova are now headed to Bucharest, Romania for their eventual repatriation to the Philippines,” she posted on Twitter.
3 March 2022 – The 25 Filipinos evacuated from Ukraine to Moldova are now headed to Bucharest, Romania for their eventual repatriation to the Philippines. Out of the 25, 21 are crew members of MV S-Breeze.@teddyboylocsin @DFAPHL pic.twitter.com/J7A7jO2uX9
— Sarah Lou Ysmael Arriola (@slyarriola) March 3, 2022
Arriola added that 21 of the evacuees are crew members of bulk carrier MV S-Breeze, which has been in dry dock for repairs in the Port of Odessa, Ukraine.
To date, 19 Filipinos have been repatriated in two batches.
Last February 24, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, targeting key cities and vital installations in what it called a “special operations.”
The Philippines has condemned Russia’s move and appealed for the protection of civilians and cessation of hostilities.