Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised speech in the early morning of February 24 that he decided to launch a special military operation in the Donbass region. On February 24, local time, Ukrainian military facilities were attacked by missiles. The Black Sea Fleet's landing operations in the Seas of Azov and Odessa have begun.
In the early morning of Beijing time on the 25th, the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine issued an urgent notice on requesting Chinese citizens to be evacuated from Ukraine for registration, and prepared to charter flights in batches to pick up Chinese Chinese in Ukraine.
In the smoke of war, the situation of overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese in Ukraine and Zhejiang touched our hearts. Are they safe at the moment? How has life been affected? What measures has the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine taken? On February 25, Tianmu News reporter interviewed Zhu Guangxiang, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Odessa, Ukraine for the first time.
Tanks on the streets of Odessa, Ukraine, are on the march Zhu Guangxiang courtesy of Zhu Guangxiang
More than 6,000 Chinese registered for evacuation
After the evacuation of overseas Chinese, the management of the warehousing of Goods by Chinese merchants has become the biggest problem
"So far, more than 6,000 Chinese in Ukraine have registered for evacuation, and a large number of Chinese businessmen are still hesitating when they consider the problem of goods storage and their Ukrainian families." Zhu Guangxiang introduced that Chinese in Ukraine is mainly concentrated in the Odessa region, because Odessa is a Black Sea port city, which has the largest trade port in Ukraine. Many Chinese traded in Odessa, and there were about 2,000 Chinese businessmen in Odessa.
"Due to the war, the warehouses of Chinese businessmen have been handed over to Ukrainians and local insurance companies for several days, but this is not a long-term solution." Zhu Guangxiang said frankly that many Chinese businessmen expressed concern about the decision to evacuate overseas Chinese, "Chinese businessmen have tens of millions of goods in the warehouse, and fewer have millions. Zhu Guangxiang said that if these Chinese businessmen all withdraw to China, the custody of goods in warehouses has become the biggest problem at present, "remote control is risky, because many people still choose to stay in Ukraine." ”
Photo courtesy of Zhu Guangxiang, a Chinese merchant's cargo warehouse in Odessa
In addition, there are also many Chinese who have been in Ukraine for many years and have long become a family. "The policy of registering and withdrawing overseas Chinese is only for Chinese people in Ukraine who hold Chinese passports, Hong Kong and Macao SAR passports, Taiwan compatriot cards or domestic identity cards, but their families and children are Ukrainians." They can't leave their families alone, so this group of people doesn't plan to return home. Zhu Guangxiang said that in the past few days, he has also received many calls from Chinese people, and after considering their Ukrainian families, he temporarily decided not to evacuate.
The security of the Chinese in Uke is guaranteed
"Planting the Chinese flag is the greatest protection"
The "Reminder on Please Pay High Attention to safety for Chinese Citizens in Ukraine" issued by the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine includes important reminders such as staying at home as much as possible and not going out, staying away from windows and glass, and planting the Chinese flag in front of the home, body and other places.
Overseas Chinese in Ukraine, including Zhu Guangxiang, responded quickly, and a five-star national flag appeared in a conspicuous place in the city. This dazzling Chinese red also gave strength to overseas Chinese in the chaos of war. "Right now, in this smoke-filled country, it's the greatest protection for us." Zhu Guangxiang said.
The Chinese flag has been planted downstairs in Zhu Guangxiang's house
Just this morning, the Ukrainian arsenal, a few hundred meters from Zhu Guangxiang's residence, was bombed, and the entire building where he was located was shaking. Zhu Guangxiang, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Odessa, Ukraine, and a volunteer assisted by the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine, decided to stay in Ukraine. "There are still many Overseas Chinese here who need my help, and I have the obligation to stay." Zhu Guangxiang said that he was ready to register the evacuation of his family and send them back to China, and he would stay in Ukraine.
A few hundred meters from Zhu Guangxiang's residence, it was bombed
According to Zhu Guangxiang, at present, the living materials are stored in advance in Wuhua, and the living security is not a problem, Odessa is generally safe, and the safety of the Chinese can be guaranteed. The roads in Odessa became more congested than before, and many Ukrainian citizens prepared to evacuate to the west. The bank gates are lined with people who go to withdraw money, and there are many more people who go to the supermarket to reserve supplies. But in general, the social order is relatively stable. "The local Ukrainians were very friendly to our Chinese."
But rather than these problems in life, Zhu Guangxiang is more concerned about whether the local overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese will be hindered. "The situation is changing every day, I am very worried that the network will be broken, we overseas Chinese and Ethnic Chinese do not live together, distributed in Ukraine, east, west, north and south, if the network is cut off, the connection will be very troublesome." Zhu Guangxiang said that he is in close contact with the embassy every day, and the first time to inform and remind the overseas Chinese in Ukraine, "The Chinese crowd is exchanging information every day, and we comfort and encourage each other." The common belief in our hearts is: no matter what happens, believe in the motherland. Zhu Guangxiang said.