Govt plane to bring Ukrainians fleeing conflict to Japan

The Yomiuri Shimbun
A government plane is seen at Haneda Airport on Friday.

The government is working on a plan that would transport Ukrainians who have sought refuge in Poland to Japan aboard a government plane, should they want to do so, government sources said.

A large number of Ukrainians have escaped to Poland in the wake of Russia’s invasion.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to dispatch Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa to Poland as a special envoy aboard a government plane as early as Friday.

The government plans to allow Ukrainian refugees to travel to Japan with the justice minister on his return flight.

The Foreign Ministry is assessing the number of Ukrainians in Poland who might want to come to Japan.

Furukawa is expected to visit Poland from April 1 to 3. He plans to meet with high-ranking Polish government officials and examine the circumstances of the country accommodating Ukrainian refugees.