Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the demarche made to the Ukrainian Ambassador to Athens over the incident in the village of Granitna resulting in the death and injury of Diaspora Greeks (15.02.2022)

Upon instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Greece, Sergii Shutenko, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to whom a demarche was made over the serious incident that took place in the village of Granitna in Eastern Ukraine and resulted -according to the information received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs- in the death and injury of Diaspora Greeks.

The Greek side, in addition to the deepest sadness caused by the abovementioned incident, underlined its particular concern and the need to protect Diaspora Hellenism, who have already suffered immensely.

It was also requested that the incident be fully investigated and that those responsible be brought to justice.

The Ukrainian Ambassador extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims, noting that there was no political or ethnic motive and that the incident was a crime under criminal law.

According to his information, there were two dead Ukrainian citizens, one of whom was a Diaspora Greek, as well as two seriously injured, both Diaspora Greeks.

The Ukrainian Ambassador concluded that those responsible have been arrested and will be brought to justice.