Kuleba reaches out by phone to one of 12 Ukrainians blocked at base outside Kabul

Kuleba has made the relevant statement via Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"I just spoke on the phone with one of our 12 citizens staying at a military base outside Kabul. We had a friendly and informative conversation about the situation and how to get our people home. For security reasons, we agreed that the guy’s name is not revealed. ‘I am proud of my country,’ he told me. We have agreed to fully coordinate our joint actions," the minister wrote.

The top diplomat added that the extremely difficult situation in Afghanistan requires just that – calm and coordination. He also refuted false allegations claiming that "Ukraine abandoned 12 servicemen at a base in Afghanistan."

1. That they were “abandoned” is a lie. They have been in touch since the onset of crisis and have constant support from our Embassy in Tajikistan.
2. That everyone was evacuated, while only Ukrainians remained is a lie. Hundreds of people, citizens of many states are on that base. Ukrainians are doing a great job. They prove themselves as organized and disciplined leaders. It is impossible to just go and leave the base. They need a corridor. And this is a separate issue.
3. That our men are being threatened is a lie. So far, there has been no direct threat to the lives and security of our citizens. This issue is under special control. There is a calm negotiation process underway on finding the ways out, without conflicts or any intimidation.
4. That these are our servicemen in Afghanistan is a lie. They are former servicemen, but are based in Kabul as individuals under an international contract with a UN subcontractor. Therefore, I ask the media and people on social networks to not be provoked and to not circulate disinformation about "servicemen."

Kuleba assured that "the guys will be taken out – either by us or by their contractor company."

“In any scenario, we will provide full support. Once again, for me and the entire Foreign Ministry, the words ‘citizen of Ukraine’ are enough to do our utmost to help, ensure the return, and guarantee security ... All adepts of the story claiming that Ukraine has abandoned its people, please do not disturb. We are not giving up on our people," the head of Ukrainian diplomacy stressed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Tuesday, August 17, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said 153 Ukrainians turned to diplomats for help in evacuating them from Afghanistan. They are constantly in touch and there is no direct threat to their lives at the moment, the statement noted.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said diplomats were in contact with Ukrainians blocked at a military base in Afghanistan and would instruct them on further steps once the evacuation is deemed possible.

On the morning of August 15, the Taliban forces surrounded Kabul and swiftly entered the Afghan capital with no resistance on the part of the army. The Taliban have claimed control of the whole country.

A spokesman for the Taliban's political office, Mohammed Naim, said the war in Afghanistan was "over," adding that no diplomatic facilities had been attacked.

On August 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 80 people, including eight Ukrainians, had been evacuated from Kabul on board a Ukrainian plane.

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