Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced Saturday that the Israeli embassy in Ukraine will be moved to Poland, days after it was relocated to the western city of Lviv prior to the Russian invasion.
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"I instructed the Israeli embassy staff located in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine to move to accommodation on the Polish side of the border," Lapid tweeted.
"The embassy staff will cross the border into Ukraine every day in order to continue their diplomatic work and help Israeli citizens leave Ukraine," he said.
Meanwhile, Israeli insurance company PassportCard said Saturday it was dispatching two rescue teams to the Ukrainian border and called on its clients to contact the company.
The Jewish Agency and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews will operate a six-point aliyah (immigration) program at four different Ukrainian border crossings – Poland, Moldova, Romania and Hungary – acting Chairman of the Jewish Agency Yaakov Hagoel and Director-General Amira Aharonovich announced on Saturday evening.
The Jewish Agency is also organizing the absorption of immigrants in temporary housing in hotels in Ukraine's neighboring countries, with the assistance of donations from the Jewish Federations in North America, Keren Hayesod and other donors.
The first group of immigrants from Ukraine moved to Poland on Saturday following a complex operation orchestrated by the Jewish Agency.
Russian and Ukrainian forces clashed on the outskirts of Kyiv early Saturday morning, as heavy, frequent artillery fire and gunfire could be heard in the capital city.
On Thursday, some 400 Ukrainians in Lviv applied for immigration to Israel – compared to 60 the previous day.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reiterated the call for Israeli nationals in Ukraine to leave the country.
"Leave now. Protect your lives. Our representatives are waiting for you at the border crossings in the west of the country," he urged.
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The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said Saturday that it was moving its embassy in Ukraine to Poland to ensure the safety of its staff.
Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra has decided that Ambassador Jennes de Mol and his team "will immediately move to Jaroslaw, on the Polish side of the border with Ukraine, to continue their work there," the ministry said.
