South Africa’s ambassador to the Ukraine said he has had no choice but to leave the capital, Kyiv, as an armoured Russian convoy is heading to the city with explosions heard in the distance.
Andre Groenewald who left on Wednesday morning is travelling south in a convoy of two vehicles with his wife, three children and the last remaining embassy staff towards Romania, Moldova or Hungary.
He said he and other colleagues and ambassadors had been working hard to secure the exit of South Africans and other foreigners from Ukraine; some of whom have faced racism at they have tried to flee.
He denounced the discrimination, adding that bombs don’t discriminate.
Meanwhile, African students in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson have been forced to hide in a basement to escape air raids and gunshots they hear every five minutes.
According to the students, one hour is spent in the basement and five minutes at home.
Some students in Sumy, north-east Ukraine, where there has been fighting with Russian troops have had unsuccessful attempts to leave because the train lines nearby were controlled by Russian forces.
There was no public transport in the city as some roads have been damaged.
Sumy is also near another frontline in Kharkiv.
The Kenyan government said some 79 Kenyan students have so far left Ukraine.
It said one student already arrived Kenya, 74 others were in Poland, two in Romania and two were in Hungary.
Four Kenyan students however expressed no interest in leaving Ukraine, citing personal reasons.
African students have joined Ukraine nationals leaving the country after Russia’s invasion.
Over half a million civilians have fled Ukraine, according to the UN.
