LONDON’S MAYOR Sadiq Khan has condemned reports of discrimination faced by African citizens at the Ukrainian border. 

Widespread reports have circulated on social media this week of African students fleeing the country that they faced segregation, racism and abuse. Video footage showed hundreds of African citizens being denied the right to board trains out of Ukraine or pass borders to safety.

The footage brought strong condemnation by the African Union (AU) and representatives of African  governments.

A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan told The Voice: “The Mayor is concerned by reports of discrimination being experienced by overseas citizens attempting to leave Ukraine in search of safety.

“Sadiq is clear that racism and prejudice are always wrong and urges those facilitating evacuations to provide the same support and show the same level of compassion to all those forced to flee Putin’s appalling acts of aggression.”

Jabeer Butt, CEO of the Race Equality Foundation also condemned the discrimination faced by Africans in Ukraine.

He told The Voice: “It is unacceptable to hear that Black and ethnic minority people in Ukraine are being blocked from fleeing to safety and treated as though their lives are worth less than others. War causes indiscriminate suffering and everyone deserves safety for themselves and their family.”

Butt continued: “We condemn all racist behaviour and call on our government to ensure that all people fleeing the conflict are supported to do so, without any division.”

According to the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, more than half a million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began last week.

In a statement the AU said: “All people have the right to cross international borders during conflict, and as such, should enjoy the same rights to cross to safety from the conflict in Ukraine, notwithstanding their nationality or racial identity.

“Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach of international law.”

Representatives from the UN Security Council’s three African nations — Kenya, Ghana, and Gabon — unanimously criticised the discrimination.

Earlier this week Kenya’s Ambassador to the UN Martin Kimani said: “The mistreatment of African peoples on Europe’s borders needs to cease immediately, whether to the Africans fleeing Ukraine or to those crossing the Mediterranean.”

The Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, said on Monday: “All who flee a conflict situation have the same right to safe passage under UN convention and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference,” citing reports that Ukrainian police had obstructed Nigerians.