A
Chinese citizen trapped in war-hit Ukraine expressed his disappointment after
his country abandoned him. 25-year-old Cao, who is among 6,000 Chinese citizens stranded in Ukraine at the moment, went to Ukraine on a holiday, but he saw Russian bombs and shelling destroying
Ukraine instead. The Chinese Embassy in Ukraine asked them to arrange their
departure from the country on their own.

Also Read: Russia blames Ukraine for ‘holding’ foreign nationals, plans evacuation

“The
embassy told us to find a way to solve the problems we’re facing by
ourselves,” Cao told AFP from a small town outside Chernihiv where he has
sought refuge with a local family.

“They
said that fighting is everywhere, they aren’t able to do anything… Shouldn’t
this be a nation’s responsibility?” he said via China’s WeChat messaging
app.

Also Read: Russia-Ukraine crisis: Drone enthusiasts in Ukraine sign up to repel Moscow troops

China
announced its evacuation efforts after the war broke out in Ukraine. China’s move
had come after Western countries asked their citizens to leave. China also
refused to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine.

China’s
foreign ministry has expressed concern for the safety of its nationals, and on
Thursday said it had helped more than 3,000 evacuate.

Also Read: In Pics | Death, prayer, and a wedding in Ukraine amid Russian assault

The
first two flights carrying evacuees landed back in China on Saturday, state
media said. But many more remain stranded.

“We
want to leave, but there are no cars. I’m afraid I’ll be killed if I attempt to
walk several hundred kilometres,” Cao said, giving only a nickname.

Also Read: Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Irpin kills fleeing civilians, video surfaces

With
Ukrainian airspace shut, some Chinese have joined the desperate rush to catch
trains out of the country or are risking the perilous drive to its western
borders to get on flights.

While
attempting to flee Ukraine, a Chinese national was shot and injured on Tuesday,
Chinese state media stated, without specifying who fired on him.

Also Read: Civilians killed, TV, radio lines bombed in Kyiv, Kharkiv in Russian attack

Cao
said locals had been kind to him, offering food and shelter, but added: “I
don’t know how much longer I can stay in a stranger’s home for free. How can I
survive?”

Other
Chinese have claimed they faced hostility and even physical attacks from
Ukrainians angry over China’s reluctance to condemn Russia, and have called for
Chinese Internet users to avoid inflammatory posts.