Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is planning a special flight operation to evacuate Nigerians from Ukraine amid the escalating crisis in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this in Abuja on Thursday after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in a mass assault by land, sea and air, the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with surprise, reports of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” a statement signed by Ministry spokesperson, Mrs Francisca Omayuli said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been reassured by the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine of the safety of Nigerians in that country and measures being undertaken to keep them safe and facilitate the evacuation of those who wish to leave.
“The Federal Government wishes to assure the families with loved ones in Ukraine that as soon as the airports in the country are opened, it would assist in facilitating the evacuation of Nigerians who are willing to leave.
“In the meantime, the Nigerian Mission has confirmed that military action by the Russians has been confined to military installations.”
What is Happening in Ukraine?
President Putin had announced a military operation in Ukraine and troops poured across its borders from Russia and Belarus and landed on the coast from the Black and Azov seas.
Ukrainian troops fought Russian forces along practically the entire border, and fierce fighting was taking place in the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odessa and at a military airport near Kyiv.
According to reports, explosions were heard before dawn and throughout the morning in the capital Kyiv, a city of 3 million people. Gunfire rattled, sirens blared, and the highway out of the city choked with traffic as residents fled.
The assault brought a calamitous end to weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by Western leaders to avert war, their worst fears about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions realised.
“Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the WW2 years,” tweeted Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won’t give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.”
Calling on Ukrainians to defend their country, he said arms would be given to anyone prepared to fight. He also urged Russians to take to the streets to protest against their government’s actions.
Oil Market Reacts
Brent crude oil soared past $105 a barrel for the first time since 2014 after Mr Putin’s announcement of a “military operation” in Ukraine.
Brent crude, the world benchmark, is currently at $103.43 a barrel for the first time in more than seven years jumping more than $6.
It’s worth noting that oil supplies are already very tight, and analysts are predicting that prices will go even higher if oil flows from Russia were disrupted.
