Ukraine rescue: India also looking to evacuate citizens through Russia

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India is also planning to evacuate citizens stranded in Ukraine through Russia.

 

At present, India has been evacuating its citizens mostly via the western border crossings at Romania and Hungary. However, thousands stranded in the eastern and south-eastern parts of Ukraine that are under constant attack from Russia are yet to be rescued.

 

"We have sent a team from the embassy in Moscow to prepare for the eventuality of evacuating them from there," said Shringla at a media briefing on Sunday.

 

The foreign secretary said the government was working with the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

 

"The ICRC is commencing operations, we have told them to be aware of the needs of our citizens. We are also going to share with them the locations of where our communities are centered," said Shringla.

 

He has urged the Indian citizens to "move westwards" and advised those in conflict zones to stay safe. However, the official confirmed that the situation was difficult in the regions of Kharkiv, Sumy and Odessa, where "a couple of thousand" Indians are stuck.

 

"We are aware of a number of Indians, particularly students, who continue to be in cities in the east and south-east of Ukraine. Unfortunately, these areas continue to be live conflict areas and it is generally deemed unsafe for people to move around freely. We will try to find suitable evacuation modalities for them," said Shringla.

 

"We will have a team in Moldova by Monday morning and they will facilitate the crossing of citizens from Odessa.”

 

India has reportedly positioned teams of Russian-speaking officials at Zahony border post in Hungary, Krakowiec as well as Shehyni-Medyka land border points in Poland, Vysne Nemecke in the Slovak Republic and Suceava transit point in Romania to coordinate the exit of Indian nationals.

 

 

2,000 evacuated so far
India has evacuated around 2,000 of its citizens from Ukraine so far, said Shringla. The foreign secretary said that around a thousand Indians have already been flown out of Romania and Hungary and another 1,000 have been evacuated from Ukraine through the land routes.

 

The official said he held separate meetings with the ambassadors of Ukraine and Russia.

 

He added that the border crossings to Hungary and Romania are functioning, while the exit point to Poland was 'problematic' as it was clogged with lakhs of Ukrainians and foreign nationals trying to leave.

 

Shringla said that Indians who are near the borders with Hungary Romania and Slovakia are being guided towards the respective border points in phases.

 

 

Uzzhorod, an alternative for Polish exit
The Indian government has suggested students try Uzhhorod, in the west of Ukraine bordering Slovakia, as an alternative to the congested border crossing to Poland.

 

"There is a train every two hours to Hungary from there. It takes 7-8 hours. This is what we are recommending," said Shringla.