Finnish Embassy adapts its activities in Kyiv

NordenBladet — Finland’s Embassy in Kyiv is on enhanced readiness and the staff will continue their work at the mission. The Embassy has adapted its activities as required in the current situation, and some of its staff members have been repatriated to Finland.On 11 February, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs updated its travel advice for Ukraine to the level of “leave the country immediately”. The change was based on a joint analysis of the situation, coordinated with the other Nordic countries. The advice to leave the country remains in force and the Ministry recommends that travellers should leave the country urgently. Commercial land and air connections are currently continuing in Ukraine and these should be used. However, the situation may change rapidly.  In a crisis, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has only limited capabilities to assist people in distress abroad.At present, based on the travel details submitted to the Ministry, 120 Finns are staying in Ukraine. However, it is estimated that the number of Finns in Ukraine is bigger than that. After the level of the travel advice was raised, those who have submitted their travel details have been contacted by the Ministry through a text message and by telephone.If you are in Ukraine and you have not yet submitted your travel details, please do so now at www.matkustusilmoitus.fi. Follow the press releases issued by the Ukrainian authorities and the Facebook pages of the Embassy of Finland in Kyiv.In case of an emergency, contact the Foreign Ministry’s 24/7 Service Centre, which serves round the clock. You can reach the Service Centre at +358 9 160 55555 or by email on [email protected].