Shenzhen Students in Ukraine Expect to Return to China Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis


Now Shenzhen   |   February 28, 2022
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WITH the Russia-Ukraine conflict mounting, the safety of Chinese nationals in Ukraine is everyone’s concern in China. Many Shenzhen students in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, told Southern Metropolis Daily on Friday that they had registered for chartered flights to leave the conflict zone and were making efforts to protect themselves.

In a notice posted Friday on the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine’s official WeChat account, Chinese nationals, including Hong Kong and Taiwan compatriots, could register to travel on the chartered flights and registrations would be open until Feb. 27.

A student from Shenzhen identified as Jackie, studies at National Pedagogical Dragomanov University in Kyiv. He told the Daily he has been anxious about personal safety since the conflict started: “I was too scared to sleep at night and chatted with my family to get some relief. I heard gunfire and saw military vehicles and policemen patrolling the streets through the window.”

Jackie intended to go shopping Thursday, yet he saw a lot of people lining up in front of supermarkets and banks. Nonetheless, another Chinese student gave him food, water, sanitizers and masks. “We expect to see each other back in the motherland,” Jackie said.

Jackie, who couldn’t afford a flight ticket home earlier and cannot take a flight because the airport was closed, was excited to see the embassy’s notice to safeguard Chinese nationals to return home.

“During this most difficult period, the motherland is my strongest backer, which provides us with substantial support,” Jackie added. At the moment, he is staying at a rental home while closely paying attention to his surroundings.

Another Shenzhen student in Kyiv, surnamed Guo, told the Daily that his neighborhood, Shevchenkivskyi District, was relatively safe at the moment. “Since we received the notice (on the evacuation of nationals) from the Chinese embassy, we felt relieved a lot. Currently, I remain indoors with food and water in place, waiting for updates from the embassy,” he said.

He heard aerial defense alarms twice a day. None of the residents in the building was hit by explosions. “The high-precision weapons don’t lead to civilian causalities. Most of us have prepared daily necessities and adopted self-protection strategies. Nonetheless, we are deeply affected by various rumors and an anxious vibe,” Guo said.

A Shenzhen student surnamed Deng went to study in Kyiv in 2019 and has a local girlfriend. Late afternoon Thursday, they hid in a bomb shelter. “We were awakened by the sound of explosions early in the morning. The serious situation drove us to stock up a lot of water and food, and later we spent the night in a bomb shelter until it became peaceful outside,” he said.

Deng also registered for the charted flights the embassy offered and expected to bring his Ukrainian girlfriend to meet his family one day when peace returns to this eastern European country.

There are around 6,000 Chinese nationals in Ukraine, such as employees of Chinese-funded enterprises and overseas students, with most of them in Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkiv, according to the Chinese embassy.

Article from:  SHENZHEN DAILY