**Ukraine Evacuates 31 Citizens from Iran Amid Rising Tensions with Israel**
In a move to ensure the safety of its citizens, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) and the Foreign Ministry have evacuated 31 Ukrainian citizens from Iran. The evacuation was carried out on June 24, hours after a ceasefire deal was announced between Iran and Israel.
The news comes as tensions between Iran and Israel continue to rise following a war that began on June 13. Despite initial violations of the ceasefire agreement, it appears to be holding now.
According to HUR, the evacuation included 14 children, 12 women, and five men who were taken out through Azerbaijan and Moldova to Kyiv. One of those evacuated, Varvara from Kyiv Oblast, spoke to HUR’s press service about their experience in Tehran.
“We felt completely unprotected all the time because there were no air raid alerts,” she said. “In addition, the Internet was down, and we had no idea what was happening.”
This evacuation marks the final stage of a joint operation by HUR and the Foreign Ministry to rescue Ukrainian citizens from high-risk areas. Earlier in June, Ukraine evacuated 176 people from Israel, including 133 Ukrainian citizens.
**Global Efforts to Hold Russia Accountable**
As tensions continue to escalate between Iran and Israel, global efforts are being made to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for launching a full-scale war against Ukraine.
Russia launched a deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on June 24, striking civilian infrastructure and a passenger train. The move marks a milestone in international efforts to hold Putin and other senior officials accountable for their actions.
In a separate development, Russian drone and artillery strikes on Kherson Oblast killed four people and injured five others between June 23-24. Twenty-nine settlements, including the city of Kherson, were hit.
**International Community Rallies Behind Ukraine**
The international community is rallying behind Ukraine as it continues to face aggression from Russia. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during a press briefing on June 23 that Russia remains the main threat to the alliance, citing Moscow’s cooperation with China, North Korea, Iran, and Belarus.
In response to rising tensions between Iran and Israel, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to scale up investments in joint weapons production, including drone technologies, artillery, and interceptors. He argued that Ukraine’s defense capabilities are not only key to defending its own territory but essential to strengthening NATO’s long-term security.
**New Military Aid Package for Ukraine**
The Netherlands has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, including 100 drone radar systems, front-line vehicles for evacuating the wounded, and 80 million euros (over $90 million) for the drone initiative. The country will also start producing drones for Ukraine, according to Ukrainian specifications.
Ukraine’s presidential office head, Andriy Yermak, held a “substantive” discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the upcoming Zelensky-Trump meeting in The Hague on June 24.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
