Ukraine’s airspace is closed. For this reason, the evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from the country by land is to begin in coordination with the other foreign diplomatic missions we are in contact with, Mitko Dimitrov, spokesperson for the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said for Radio Bulgaria. 110 Bulgarian citizens have so far requested evacuation:

“It will take place by private motor vehicles. Aside from them, there are almost 4,000 people living in Ukraine who have requested to come to Bulgaria, these are people who are not Bulgarian citizens. Foreign Minister Genchovska has directed Bulgarian diplomats from Poland, Romania and Moldova to go to the border check points so as to ensure that our compatriots cross over without any problems – once the land evacuation starts they will be convoyed. An operational headquarters has been set up at the Bulgarian embassy in Kyiv, which is in constant contact with our compatriots and is obtaining current data and their location, so they can be contacted directly. Our advice to our compatriots at this time is to remain in their homes.”

• President Rumen Radev: Bulgaria is open to all refugees from Ukraine
  

“The Bulgarian institutions are working in coordination with one another, top priority being given to evacuating the Bulgarian citizens from Ukraine,” Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said earlier today, after the meeting on Ukraine held at the Presidency.

“We are organizing road transportation together with the Ministry of Transport for the 4,000 people in question. We shall also organize, with the Ministry of Tourism, facilities we can use, so that we can accommodate such a large number of people. At the same time, we are working with the Interior Ministry and the State Agency for National Security, to organize the swift processing of the data of these people so that we can accept them.”

PM Petkov formulated Bulgaria’s position: “We strongly condemn the actions of the Russian Federation. That is inadmissible and Bulgaria will speak in one voice with the EU and NATO.”

The information available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that in some regions of Ukraine electricity is out, mobile phone operators are also expected to stop operating.

Bulgarian citizens can contact Bulgaria’s diplomatic representations in Ukraine:

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Kyiv: +38044 2354389; +380442352202; out of working hours telephones: +380442467237;+380442467672; Embassy.Kiev@mfa.bg ;  Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Odessa: +38 048 746 65 54; +38 048 746 65 58 ; +38 048 746 63 75; emergency out of working hours telephone: +380682930048; Е-mail: Consulate.Odessa@mfa.bg