Ukraine evacuated over 30 of its citizens from Syria – details of the operation from intelligence.

Ukrainian intelligence evacuated 34 people from Syria via Lebanon

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, successfully carried out an operation to evacuate 34 individuals from Syria through Lebanon. The group includes 31 Ukrainian citizens and three Syrian relatives who have the legal right to enter Ukraine. Of these, 15 are children. This was reported by the intelligence press service. The evacuation was approved by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

'We thank the Lebanese side, particularly Dr. Naji Hammoud, the general manager of sports and youth facilities in Lebanon, as well as Sky Up airline for their continued support. We also express our gratitude to the authorities of the Republic of Moldova for their assistance in the evacuation mission,' the intelligence report states.

The evacuated citizens have already arrived at Chișinău airport, from where they will head home to Ukraine.

'I thank the Military Intelligence of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Embassy in Lebanon for the opportunity to return to Ukraine and see my loved ones - for the first Time in 10 years,' said one of the evacuated Ukrainian citizens.

Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the HUR MO of Ukraine, emphasized: 'The important operation to rescue Ukrainians from Syria is further proof that Ukraine helps its citizens everywhere and always. Military intelligence officers, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are doing everything possible to protect the rights of our people and assist those in distress.'

Intelligence also reminded that since August 2024, they have already conducted four stages of evacuation from Lebanon, rescuing 302 people, of whom 217 are citizens of Ukraine and 85 are citizens of other countries.

Earlier, a special intelligence unit 'Angels' rescued a family of an officer of the Naval Forces from occupied Crimea, who was pursued by the FSB of the Russian Federation.