176 Ukrainians evacuated from Israel just before US airstrikes on Iran - Zelenskyy
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukraine has evacuated 176 of its citizens from the danger zone in the Middle East. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that protecting Ukrainian citizens remains a top priority.
"On the eve of active operations by the United States targeting facilities related to Iran’s nuclear program, Ukrainian diplomats and the Main Directorate of Intelligence carried out an important phase of evacuating Ukrainian citizens and those of partner states from the danger zone: 176 people were evacuated from Israel to Egypt. Evacuation from Iranian territory to Azerbaijan is also ongoing," he said.
Zelenskyy added that, in total, 176 people were evacuated from Israel to Egypt, and efforts continue to evacuate others from Iran to Azerbaijan.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reported on the coordinated work of Ukrainian diplomats in the region and their cooperation with partners to ensure the safety of Ukrainian citizens.
Among those evacuated were not only Ukrainians but also citizens of Moldova, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, and the United States.
President Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is responding to all requests, continuing evacuation efforts, and has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and intelligence services to do everything possible to protect Ukrainians and partners in the conflict zone in the Middle East and the Gulf region.
Strikes on Iran on the night of June 22
On June 22, 2025, the United States carried out airstrikes on three key nuclear facilities in Iran — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. President Donald Trump called the operation “an impressive military success.”
Meanwhile, Israel was forced to urgently close its airspace due to fears of a retaliatory strike from Tehran.
President Trump also promised that the United States would continue launching strikes if Tehran refuses to enter negotiations on a new nuclear deal.
