Volodymyr Zelensky / Photo from UNIAN

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the issue of the evacuation of Ukrainians from China's Wuhan, the city at the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Zelensky noted all citizens had undergone a preliminary medical examination and were healthy. According to him, the evacuees will be placed on quarantine in a secured medical center of the National Guard in the village of Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, according to the statement published on the president's Telegram channel

"It will be completely isolated, operating in a strict regime of bacteriological safety. It will probably be the most protected facility in the country for the next two weeks," Zelensky said.

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The president emphasized there was no health hazard. However, there is a threat of "forgetting that we are all people and we are all Ukrainians. Each of us. Including those who stayed in Wuhan during the outbreak."

Read alsoUkrainians evacuated from China to be quarantined in medical center outside Poltava

"Unfortunately, not all of us can be proud of the same humane reaction. Attempts to block highways, block a hospital, and prevent Ukrainian citizens from getting back to Ukraine – this shows by no means the best side of our character. Especially when we remember that most passengers are people who are under 30 years of age. To many of us, they are almost like children," Zelensky explained.

The president says the "decade-long policy" of dividing Ukrainians into the right and wrong kinds is the thing of the past.

"This era is over. We will fight for every Ukrainian who is in trouble, wherever they are. We will save, evacuate, and swap. Ukraine will not surrender its citizens. This will be our government policy – I guarantee this. But public reaction should be the same – I really hope so," the statement says.