Foreign Ministry says nearly 11,000 Israelis fled Ukraine, some 1,500 remain

The Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that nearly 11,000 Israelis have fled Ukraine in the past four weeks.

Some 1,500 still remain in the country amid Russia’s invasion. According to the ministry, most of them are not interested in leaving at the moment or are not allowed to due to current military conscription laws.

All Ukrainian men aged 18-60 have been ordered to remain in the country to serve as a potential fighting force.

The ministry noted that there is still heavy traffic towards the border and recommended that Israelis still wishing to leave Ukraine do so through the Zahony border crossing with Hungary and the Palanca border crossing with Moldova.

Last week, the Foreign Ministry warned Israelis currently in Belarus not to approach the country’s southern border with Ukraine, due to the ongoing Russian invasion and continued deployment of military forces in the area.

The ministry also asked Israelis remaining in the Russia-aligned dictatorship — officially a republic — to register with the embassy in Minsk as a precaution.

Ongoing updates for Israelis currently in Ukraine, at the MFA website 24/7 ⬇️https://t.co/SfsFZoMss5 pic.twitter.com/nRZIdoBRcg

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) February 26, 2022

The warning comes amid growing fears of Moscow targeting civilians in Ukraine and Belarus who are seeking to join the war from the north.

Ukraine has voiced concern about Belarusian troops joining the battle over Kyiv — located just over 167 kilometers (103.7 miles) from the Belarus-Ukraine border crossing — where a Russian advance has stalled in the face of strong resistance.