Operation on returning the Ukrainians from war-torn Sudan was more difficult than the evacuation of people from Kabul in 2021.

This was said in a comment for hromadske by a DIU employee who has directly participated in conducting operation.

“This is one of the unique operations, conducted by Ukrainian intelligence, the details of which we can not yet to disclose. The only thing that we can say is that this operation was more difficult than one in Afghanistan,” the intelligence officer said.  

It is about the operation in Kabul, Afghanistan, from where the Ukrainian military evacuated people in August of 2021 after the seizing power by militants of the Taliban grouping. By the end of summer, Ukraine evacuated more than 650 Ukrainians by six planes.

“In Kabul, Afghanistan, the base was held by American troops. It was as a fortress from where our special forces personnel were taken out. But then there was a point to which it was possible to return,” the DIU employee noted.  

According to him, the nearest secure point in Sudan was at the distance of 900 km. “And this despite the fact that the Ukrainian servicemen did not have significant military support,” the intelligence officer added.

"I believe that when all the details can be revealed, this operation [in Sudan] can be called unique," summarized the employee of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.