The Filipinos in Ukraine are already preparing if the Russian military forces continue to invade there.
According to the teacher there, Shie Santosildes, the situation in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv is still calm and normal.
But this Tuesday night, he was scheduled to say goodbye to the employer and flee to Lviv, a city 7 hours away from Kyiv.
According to Santosildes, many of his international students have already left Ukraine or moved elsewhere.
It was in the midst of a possible invasion of Russian military troops that began gathering on the borders of Ukraine as early as November 2021.
The US warns the invasion could happen any day from now.
There had previously been a war between Russia and Ukraine in 2014.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured a contingency plan.
“(The) DFA has contingency plans for Ukraine OFs. It will be set in motion once things escalate. The only challenge is we don’t have an embassy in Ukraine. Our embassy in Poland has jurisdiction over Ukraine. There are around 380 Filipinos in Ukraine,” said DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay.
Filipinos in Ukraine preparing for Russian invasion
The Department of Labor and Employment is also awaiting a report from the Philippines Overseas Labor Office in Prague, the Czech Republic, jurisdiction over OFWs in Ukraine.
But some Filipinos, like housekeeper Cora Adajar, have no plans to go home now.
“Kumbaga nagpakahirap kaming pumunta dito, nagpakagastos kami, malaki ang nagastos namin dito tapos babalik kami diyan nang wala na naman,” she said.
The international community has a glimmer of hope as Russia has stated that it is still open to diplomatic talks.
Russia opposes Ukraine’s desire to join NATO or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance of European and American countries.
According to POEA Deputy Administrator Bong Plan, they are awaiting notification from the DFA and the Philippine embassy for the corresponding announcement on whether to conduct mandatory or voluntary repatriations to OFWs in Ukraine.
“We are closely coordinating with the DFA kasi sila po nakatingin on the ground whatever advices po ang binibigay sa amin dun po kami gumagawa ng mga alert levels para sa amin dito,” said Plan.
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