New Delhi: The Indian government is trying to evacuate those students and nationals who are stuck in the cities of Kharkiv and Sumy in Ukraine by sending a special team from the embassy in Moscow, and has also reached out to the International Red Cross, the Ministry of External Affairs Sunday said.
Kharkiv and Sumy are situated in north-eastern Ukraine where the fighting has become intense. Around 3,500 Indian students are stuck in Kharkiv and several more in Sumy. The students are hiding in underground bunkers and have food and water supplies that would help them survive only for the next two days.
“These areas continue to be live conflict areas… At least a couple of thousands are in that area spread out in Kharkiv, Sumy and areas around south-east Ukraine… We will try to find suitable evacuation modalities for them once feasible,” Foreign Secretary Harsh V. Shringla said at a special media briefing Sunday.
Shringla said he “separately” met the envoys of Russia and Ukraine, who are based in New Delhi, and apprised them of the condition of Indian nationals and students stuck in these conflict areas, which also includes areas in the south-east of Ukraine.
“I called in both the Ambassadors Russia and Ukraine separately, conveyed to them our deep concerns on the safety and security of Indian citizens, particularly, students based in Ukraine. We have shared with them the locations where Indian students are concentrated, Indian citizens are concentrated, for ensuring their protection,” he said, adding that he was assured of their safety.
“I got every sense that we will get their fullest support when it comes to the well-being of our citizens,” Shringla said.
Meanwhile, reports emerged that Indian students who were trying to flee Ukraine were assaulted near the Poland border. Students from Bangladesh, Africa as well as India, who were trying to flee Ukraine, were also reportedly disallowed to board trains.
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Red Cross, Moldova contacted
The foreign secretary also said India has now contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva as they are also commencing their evacuation operation for nationals of all countries who are stuck there.
India has also reached out to Moldova for evacuation of Indian nationals from the Ukraine-Moldova border.
Shringla said the issue of Indians who have reached the border of Poland and aren’t allowed to cross over was also taken up with the Ukrainian authorities.
“Our team is working flat out,” Shringla said. “We will do what we can at this juncture.”
The foreign secretary reiterated that India will continue to urge both Russia and Ukraine to resolve the escalating situation through “dialogue and diplomacy” as New Delhi has been saying at the United Nations.
“Our position remains consistent… We have been engaged with all parties,” he added.
On Sunday, as the war entered its fourth day, President Vladimir Putin escalated tensions further by putting Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert.
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