The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigration has successfully secured the safe passage of 15 Egyptian sailors, stranded in Ukraine, to neighboring Moldova, in preparation for their repatriation to Egypt on the earliest available flight.

Ambassador Nader Zaki, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, stated that Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty had directed the Ministry’s Consular Sector and the Egyptian embassies in Ukraine and Romania (which is non-resident accredited to Moldova) to expedite the necessary procedures for the sailors—whose vessels had been caught in military operations in the Black Sea—and to facilitate their return as soon as possible.

The spokesperson added that the embassies in Ukraine and Romania secured transit visas to Moldova for the sailors after obtaining the required identification documents and coordinating with their employers to arrange travel tickets back to Egypt.

The sailors have since crossed into Moldova and are awaiting their return to Egypt on the next available flight.