The convoy from Mariupol with 82 Greek citizens and journalists and diplomacy staff crossed the border into Moldova on Friday afternoon, the Foreign Ministry in Athens. On board of 28 vehicles, the evacuees left the war zone of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday for the safe West.
For three days the vehicles were reportedly driving through a war zone, with dozens of roadblocks, continuous checks, night curfew and damaged roads.
Sometimes they needed two hours to cover a distance of 50 km.
The convoy carrying the code name “Nostos 3” set off with 21 cars, but more were added on along the way, the Ministry said.
On Twitter, Greek Foreign Ministry, Nikos Dendias, congratulated everyone involved in the evacuation operation, in both the Ukraine and in Athens.
Η αυτοκινητοπομπή υπό τον συντονισμό του Πρέσβη Φραγκίσκου Κωστελλένου πέρασε τα σύνορα Ουκρανίας-Μολδαβίας όπου τους περίμενε κλιμάκιο της Πρεσβείας μας στο Βουκουρέστι. Η επιχείρηση #Νόστος3 ολοκληρώθηκε επιτυχώς. Συγχαρητήρια σε όσους συνέβαλαν στην αίσια έκβαση.
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) March 4, 2022
The General Consuls in Mariupol and Odessa remain at their posts, until further notice, the ministry pointed out.
The majority of 150,000 ethnic Greeks in and around Mariupol have stayed in Ukraine.
