They were forced to make harrowing escapes to neighbouring countries after Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian traffic

Military plane brings home Jordanians fleeing Ukraine war



Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

Sixty-five Jordanians who fled the Russian assault on Ukraine arrived in Amman from Romania aboard a military transport plane.

Official footage showed Jordanian officials receiving them at the Marka military hospital in Amman.

Among the returnees were students studying at universities in Kyiv and other cities, as well as whole families living in Ukraine.

One student, who did not want to be named, said the road from Kyiv to the Romanian border was dangerous.

"There was constant bombing. I am glad I made it OK," he said.

Jordanian diplomats have been dispatched to Romania's border with Ukraine, as well as to other countries bordering Ukraine, to help citizens fleeing the country.

Jordan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that a second military plane is waiting in Romania for more returnees to bring them back later on Wednesday.

The military sent the two planes to Romania on Tuesday, with Jordanian authorities saying that 215 Jordanians had managed to cross to Romania and Moldova from Ukraine in the last two weeks.

Dozens of Jordanians who fled Ukraine to countries in Eastern Europe have made it back to Jordan in the last few days on commercial flights.

About 5,000 Jordanians are estimated to have been living in Ukraine before the Russian assault last month.

Some of those trying to flee the fighting say they have been asked for money or forced to wait before leaving Ukraine
Updated: March 02, 2022, 8:20 PM