Ukraine evacuates Dutch from Kabul as Taliban takes over

Ukraine assisted in the evacuation of Dutch citizens from Kabul, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter. The capital city of Afghanistan fell to the Taliban on Sunday. The extremist military organization celebrated their victor from the president's palace.

"Ukrainian aircraft stationed in Afghanistan took citizens of Ukraine, the Netherlands, Croatia, Belarus, Afghanistan out of Kabul. They are safe now. We don't abandon our people and help others. In case of further requests, we will do everything possible to help Ukrainians and foreigners," Kuleba tweeted.

He did not say how many people were rescued from Kabul. It is also unclear whether the Netherlands residents involved are embassy employees or were working for aid organizations.

The Dutch embassy in Kabul was evacuated during the early hours of Sunday morning and moved to a location near the airport, a spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to ANP. Last week, Minister Sigrid Kaag of Foreign Affairs said she hoped to keep the embassy open for as long as possible, but that preparations for evacuation were being made.

Minister Ank Bijleveld of Defense said that the Netherlands sent a plane to Kabul, to pick up Netherlands residents there. She also said that more was happening, but would not give details, NOS reports. 

In the meantime, there is chaos at the airport in Kabul as thousands of people try to flee the country. 

Another day begins in Kabul, a sea of people rushing into the Kabul airport terminal. #AFG pic.twitter.com/UekpGJ2MWd

— Jawad Sukhanyar (@JawadSukhanyar) August 16, 2021

The Exodus from Kabul pic.twitter.com/DEI47ZslQt

— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) August 15, 2021