Panama to Cover Repatriation Costs for Citizens Leaving Ukraine

The Panamanian government announced that it will pay the transportation expenses for any of its citizens who request to return from the war zone in Ukraine. The decision was disclosed by Carlos Guevara‑Mann, the Vice‑Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, who said the Ministry will cover the full cost of travel back to Panama without conditions. So far, no Panamanian nationals have formally requested the assistance. The announcement follows four ongoing investigations by the Public Ministry into cases of Panamanians reported missing or unreachable after traveling to the conflict area, some of whom are believed to have been involuntarily recruited by armed forces.

Guevara‑Mann acknowledged the difficulty of locating and confirming the status of these individuals and described the situation as “penosa” (distressing). He noted that while some citizens may have signed contracts individually, the government’s ability to intervene is limited, but the repatriation offer remains in place as part of Panama’s diplomatic effort to assist its nationals abroad.