Russian Foreign Minisry invites Lebenese students who fled Ukraine to study in Russia

BEIRUT — Education Minister Abbas Halabi received a letter from the Russian Foreign Ministry via the Russian Ambassador on directives to facilitate the registration of Lebanese students in Russian universities who were previously studying in Ukrainian universities, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Here’s what we know:

    • Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov explained that “the applications can be submitted by students to the Russian Cultural Center, and whoever was studying in Ukraine at the expense of a certain scholarship can continue in Russia with a Russian scholarship. As for those who fund their own tuition, they will receive payment facilities.”

    • He also announced a hotline set up by the Russian Education Ministry at the service of Lebanese students.

    • On the other hand, the Russian ambassador revealed that “his country provided the World Food Program (WFP) with a $5 million shipment of sunflower oil, set to arrive in Beirut,” adding that WFP “will distribute it to thousands.”

    • Ukrainian Ambassador to Lebanon Ihor Ostash said last week that 90 percent of Lebanese students have been evacuated from Ukraine via Bucharest and Warsaw following the Russian attack on Ukrainian cities. He added that there were 1,175 Lebanese students registered to study in Ukraine.