More than 2.5 million people have left Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on February 24, according to the United Nations. Among them are hundreds of Latin Americans, whose nations have mobilized to evacuate their citizens.
Brazil
About 500 Brazilian citizens were in Ukraine, German broadcaster DW reported based on information from the Brazilian government. To rescue Brazilian citizens who had crossed Ukrainian borders, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB, in Portuguese) sent two aircraft to Warsaw, capital of Poland. One of them, the KC-390 Millennium, carried 11.6 tons of humanitarian aid, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
In Warsaw, 42 Brazilians, 20 Ukrainians, five Argentines, one Colombian, and 10 animals boarded the FAB flight and landed in Brasília on March 10, the FAB said. In addition to the rescue initiative, the Brazilian government set up three Brazilian Embassy outposts: one in Lviv, a Ukrainian city about 70 kilometers from the border with Poland; another in Chisinau, capital of Moldova; and a third in Siret, Romania.
Ecuador
More than 700 citizens have already returned to Ecuador on three humanitarian flights, organized by the country’s Foreign Ministry, or on private flights taken on the initiative of the Ecuadorians themselves, AP reported in late February. For every 10 Latin Americans living in Ukraine, three were Ecuadorians, according to Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio.
Argentina
More than 70 Argentines have left Ukraine. “We have a record of all of them, we are in constant communication with them, and we continue to work with all Argentines who are there and wish to leave,” Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said, according to an early March Infobae report. “We are putting a mobile consulate on the border with Poland and Romania, which are the two possible exits that our compatriots have been using.”
Peru
According to the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, about 320 Peruvians live in Ukraine, Voice of America reported. In early March, the Foreign Ministry said that citizens who arrived at the Polish border will be repatriated on commercial flights, Peruvian newspaper Gestión reported. More than 50 were able to return to Peru and were welcomed at the airport by Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, the British newspaper Independent reported.
Chile
The Chilean Consulate in Warsaw, Poland, had registered 53 Chileans in Ukraine, according to CNN. Chilean authorities contacted Chileans in Ukraine and provided them with information about efforts being made to keep them safe and help them leave the country, while working with the embassies of partner nations with diplomatic representation in Ukraine, CNN reported.
Chile’s Foreign Ministry also said it was collaborating with Colombia to establish two reception centers in Poland for its citizens fleeing the armed conflict, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Colombia
In early March, the Colombian government was able to evacuate more than 240 Colombian citizens who were in Ukraine, El Colombiano reported. As of that time, 34 Colombians were staying in Warsaw, 13 in Hungary, five in Krakow, and one in Lubin.
