Category: Government

Aerial attacks against civilians, which continue in the village of Sartana and which resulted in the deaths of four more Diaspora Greeks, are unacceptable criminal actions.

We condemn them unequivocally.

We call on the Russian Federation to immediately halt airstrikes and any action targeting civilians.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias had earlier today a videoconference with the seconded to the Consulate General in Mariupol, Ambassador Fragiskos Kostellenos, the Consul General Manolis Androulakis and the Consul General in Odessa Dimitris Dochtsis.

The videoconference was held with the aim of giving an update on the latest developments, as well as on the possibilities of providing assistance to Greek citizens and Diaspora Greeks in Ukraine.

During this videoconference, the Consul General in Mariupol informed that the Mayor of Sartana asked the population to evacuate the village and move to Mariupol, which is located about ten kilometers away.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his gratitude to the abovementioned officials for their work and stressed that he will continue to be in constant contact with them, taking into consideration that the security and protection of Greek citizens and Diaspora Greeks is a top priority for our country.

The videoconference was also attended by Ambassador to Bucharest Sofia Grammata, who is responsible for coordinating the reception of citizens entering Moldova and Romania from Ukraine.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Themistoklis Demiris, upon instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, made earlier today a protest demarche to the Russian Ambassador in Athens, Andrey Maslov, regarding the aerial attacks on the villages of Sartana and Buhas.

In this context, the Secretary General also delivered a relevant note verbale, in which it is stressed, inter alia, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is appalled by the abovementioned unprovoked military attacks and calls on Russia to respect international humanitarian law and halt attacks targeting civilians.

Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates Greece’s particular interest in the security of Greek citizens and Diaspora Greeks in the territory of Ukraine and repeats its appeal to the Russian Federation, which carries out attacks in the region, for respect of their rights and the protection of their lives.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias will participate today, Sunday, February 27, 2022, at 19:00 (Greek time), in the extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council, to be held via videoconference.

The Foreign Affairs Council is reconvened in order for the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU member states to discuss the developing situation in Ukraine, in the context of the unfolding Russian military attack.

Greece is appalled by and unequivocally condemns the bombing of civilians by a Russian aircraft on the outskirts of the village of Sartana earlier today, which resulted in the death of two Diaspora Greeks and the injury of six others, including a child.

Upon instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, the Secretary General Themistoklis Demiris made a strong protest demarche by telephone to the Russian Ambassador in Athens and summoned him to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorrow.

It is recalled that, during their recent meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs had emphatically raised with his Russian counterpart the issue of the need to protect Diaspora Greeks.