Efforts to rescue stranded Irish medical student Racheal Diyaolu from the Ukrainian city of Sumy appear to have failed.
Racheal's sister Christiana Diyaolu tweeted this morning that a planned evacuation mission of civilians from Sumy by two British volunteers has been halted after their vehicle came under fire from Russian soldiers.
It is understood that Racheal, from Carlow, was part of a group which was to be picked up earlier this morning. However, the vehicle never reached them.
Her sister Christiana Diyaolu tweeted: "Unfortunately to our horror, it seems like the operation has backfired. They were just 80km away. From hopefulness to hopelessness in a matter of minutes. I wouldn’t wish this nightmare on my worst enemy, honest to God."
Racheal’s family have repeatedly appealed for more help from the Irish Government to bring the 19-year-old home.
Christiana tweeted: "I don’t know how much more devastation we can take. Please, the humanitarian cease fire/corridor for evacuation should extend to Sumy."
Efforts to rescue stranded Irish medical student Racheal Diyaolu from the Ukrainian city of Sumy appear to have failed. A planned evacuation mission of civilians from Sumy by two British volunteers has been halted after their vehicle came under fire from Russian soldiers. 1/2
— Philip Bromwell (@philipbromwell) March 6, 2022
In a further development, a TikTok account which has been posting updates on behalf of the British volunteers said their van has now been "raided and the two front tyres have been shot out".
