'What I saw, I hope no one will ever see' says Greek diplomat returning from Mariupol

The last EU diplomat to evacuate Mariupol, Ukraine, was the consul general of Greece in Mariupol. He said that the city would soon join the ranks of those places that have been destroyed by wars in the past.

Manolis Androulakis assisted many Greek nationals and ethnic Greeks in evacuating the city that was destroyed by Russia's invasion. After a four-day journey through Ukraine, he left Mariupol Tuesday. He crossed into Romania via Moldavia with 10 other Greek nationals.

Androulakis stated, "What I saw was what I hope no one will ever hear," as he arrived at Athens International Airport on Sunday and was reunited to his family.

Androulakis stated that Mariupol would be added to a list of cities completely destroyed by war.

According to the Greek Foreign Ministry Androulakis was the last EU diplomat who left Mariupol. Many residents have been under heavy bombardment for over two weeks while Russian forces attempt to take control.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, stated Saturday that Russia's attack on Mariupol was "a terror which will be remembered for many centuries to come".

Since Russia attacked Mariupol, at least 10 ethnic Greeks were killed and many others have been injured. According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, more than 150 Greeks, including vessel crews, have been evacuated from this region.

Mariupol was a city that had more than 400,000 inhabitants before the war. It has always been home to a large number of ethnic Greeks, who have been involved in shipping and trade in the region since the Byzantine period.

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