57 Zambian Students Free From Russian Invasion

Following Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine, the government has reported that 57 Zambian students have safely crossed into Poland. The announcement comes after the government pledged, yesterday, to commit to the Zambians stuck in Ukraine and that they were a priority to President Hakainde Hichilema.

During a joint media briefing today, Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Stanley Kakubo, stated that at the Polish border, Zambian staff at the Embassy in Berlin, Germany, and the Honorary Council to Poland have secured buses to transport Zambian nationals as they arrive in Poland.

Mr. Kakubo assured that a facility has been created by the Polish authorities to serve as a transit place for Zambians before they are transferred to Warsaw, Poland's capital, where the Zambian government is providing appropriate lodging and meals for the students.

Mr Kakubo said out of the 141 known Zambians in Ukraine, there are indications that 27 of them are predominantly former students and have opted to remain in that country having been integrated in Ukrainian society over a number of years.

Finally, Mr Kakubo thanked the Zambian diaspora for the support to facilitate easy communication and movement of the Zambian students to be evacuated safely.