Czech Republic calls on its citizens in Russia, Belarus to come home

By Askin Kiyagan and Mehmet Yilmaz

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AA) - Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the Czech Republic on Monday urged its citizens to evacuate Russia and Belarus and come home.

Czechs in Belarus and Russia were asked to leave these countries without delay, the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.

The statement noted the growing tension in these countries due to the war and said that a message will be sent to citizens registered with the ministry.

The Czech Republic evacuated its diplomats in Ukraine over the weekend and also temporarily closed its consulates in the Russian cities of St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

Separately, a second train carrying ammunition also reportedly left the Czech Republic for Ukraine.

There was no word on what kinds of weapons were on the second train after the first train reached Ukraine last night.

The Czech Republic has announced that it will provide weapons and ammunition assistance in the amount of about £16 million ($17.91 million) to support Ukraine.

- Uzbek nationals also leaving

Due to the war, the evacuation of about 200 Uzbek citizens who want to leave Ukraine through Poland also began on Monday.

The first group including women, children, and students left on an Uzbekistan Airlines plane for the capital Tashkent, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.

According to Uzbek authorities, there are about 5,000 Uzbek citizens currently living in Ukraine.

Since Russia's war on Ukraine began last Thursday, it has been met by outrage from the international community, with the EU, UK, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions against Russia.

Russia was further isolated after its planes were barred from flying in European and Canadian airspace, and a number of its banks were kicked out of the SWIFT international banking system.

*Writing by Merve Berker in Ankara