‘Oligarchs’ flee Ukraine — reports

Ukrainian local media have suggested that an exodus of Ukraine’s richest, including the so-called 'oligarchs,' from the country has been in full swing.

A report published by Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper on Sunday (13) claimed that “about 20 charters and private jets” departed from Kiev on that day alone.

The newspaper noted that one of the private jets spotted leaving Ukrainian airspace on Sunday is allegedly owned by Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akmetov, whose net worth is estimated at about $7.1 billion, according to Forbes.

Pravda reported that the billionaire himself left the country on January 30, however. Ukraine's second richest man and fellow steel magnate Victor Pinchuk reportedly left at the end of last month as well.

A number of lawmakers also reportedly scramble to exit Ukraine. The newspaper reported, citing sources, that a representative of the Euro-skeptic Opposition Platform — For Life party in the Verkhovna Rada and businessman Igor Abramovych booked a private jet for 50 people to transfer them to Vienna, Austria.

Ukraine has requested a meeting of members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the country’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said late on Sunday, accusing Moscow of failing to respond to Kiev’s inquiry over its alleged military activities, near the two states shared frontier.

Kuleba cited the Vienna Document, a series of agreements on security-building measures between European countries adopted in 1990, and subsequently updated.

The cited protocol is a framework agreement aimed at confidence and security-building, which was agreed by members of the OSCE. The latest iteration of the document was signed back in 2011.

While the Russian Foreign Ministry has not provided any public reaction to Ukraine’s request, diplomatic sources told local media that Kiev’s inquiry was deemed to be not well-founded enough.

US President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have reiterated to pursue diplomacy to ease tensions, as the US national security adviser warned that Moscow was looking to find a “pretext” for the attack.

“President Biden made clear that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its allies and partners, to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine,” the White House said on Sunday.

Zelenskyy’s office said the two leaders had discussed potential economic sanctions against Russia should it invade its western neighbour.

The Ukrainian government has allocated 16.6 billion hryvnia ($592 million USD) for guarantees to insurance and leasing companies so that flights to Ukraine can continue, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a post on his Telegram channel Sunday.