Inside Albanese’s secret mission to Ukraine

The prime minister entered from Poland under a veil of secrecy with seven advisers and three members of the media drawn from a hat.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, second left, listens to a translator during his visit to Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 3. AP

Updated Jul 4, 2022 – 10.53am, first published at 10.08am

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When the Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, Australian embassy staffer Nadia Teriokhina had one thought on her mind – she didn’t want to get trapped behind enemy lines.

She told Anthony Albanese at the weekend that she counted herself among the lucky ones. Hundreds were massacred in Bucha, outside Kyiv and about 10 minutes from her home in Irpin, including women and children. Some women were raped before they were killed.