Egypt warns against travel to Ukraine, tells citizens to prepare to leave country

Smoke and flames billow from a section of the Kerch Bridge, at sunrise, in the Kerch Strait, Crimea, Oct. 8, 2022. (Reuters)

• Citizens already in Ukraine were advised to reduce unnecessary movements, avoid danger zones, and prepare to return to their homeland in case of a deterioration in security
• Ali Farouk, head of the Egyptian community in Ukraine, said that the situation was “unstable” but everyone in Kyiv was “fine”

CAIRO: Egypt has warned its citizens against traveling to Ukraine due to “rapid political and security developments.”

The Foreign Ministry’s advice came as Russia intensified its bombing campaign on Monday. 

Citizens already in Ukraine were advised to reduce unnecessary movements, avoid danger zones, and prepare to return to their homeland in case of a deterioration in security.

Ali Farouk, head of the Egyptian community in Ukraine, said that the situation was “unstable” but everyone in Kyiv was “fine.” 

He noted that there were around 500 Egyptian families in Ukraine.

Russia targeted Ukrainian cities with large-scale missile strikes on Monday following an explosion that damaged the strategic Kerch Bridge linking Russia to Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

On Monday, Egypt denied sending observers to referendums on annexation in Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions.