India is giving maximum attention to eastern Ukraine for evacuation efforts as around 300 Indian students are supposed to be stuck in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and around 700-plus in the neighbouring city of Sumy near Ukraine’s border with Russia, an area that is witnessing the maximum action by the Russian military. In a media briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said, that the Indian government is “looking at all options” but the conflict situation there “is posing significant obstacles” in moving the students out of these places. “Nevertheless, we remain engaged with all concerned to see whatever we can do at the earliest. We would need to have some degree of a local ceasefire,” added the MEA spokesperson.
Concerned over the non-availability of a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation process, the MEA urged the Russian and Ukrainian authorities to announce a “local ceasefire” so that Indian nationals can be safely evacuated.
Bagchi said, “It (evacuation) looks difficult without a ceasefire. We urge the parties concerned, Ukraine and Russia, to have a local ceasefire at least so that we can evacuate our people.” Bagchi said that things are quite smooth on Ukraine’s western borders.
“We had requested Ukraine authorities for special trains but haven’t heard anything yet. Meanwhile, we are arranging buses,” he said.
The MEA spokesperson said that the highest attention for evacuation is being given to eastern Ukraine. “Highest attention is on eastern Ukraine, particularly Kharkiv and Pisochin. We have managed to get some buses there. Five buses are already operational, more buses will be functional later in the evening. We are concerned about Sumy,” added Bagchi.
Speaking on Operation Ganga to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine amid Russia’s military operations, the MEA said on Friday that over 20,000 Indians have left Ukraine since the first travel advisory was issued. During the briefing, Arindam Bagchi said, “Over 20,000 Indians have left the Ukraine borders since we issued our advisories. There are more people, but it’s reassuring to see that these many people have left Ukrainian borders.”
“During the last 24 hours, 18 flights have landed in India with around 4,000 Indians on board. The total number of flights that have landed have been 48, carrying 10,348 Indians,” he said.
He mentioned that 16 flights were scheduled for
the next 24 hours including Indian Air Force’s C-17 aircraft. Bagchi also said that India has requested Ukrainian authorities for special trains to help in the evacuation of the Indian nationals, however, buses have been arranged.
Meanwhile, a total of 5,245 Indian nationals have been airlifted from Romania to India until 3 March amid Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
The Russians claimed on Thursday (local time) that they had as many as 130 buses ready to evacuate Indian students and other foreigners from Kharkiv and Sumy to Russia’s Belgorod region. This was announced by Russian National Defence Control Centre head, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev.
“A total of 130 comfortable buses are ready to depart to Kharkiv and Sumy from the Nekhoteyevka and Sudzha checkpoints in the Belgorod region since 6 am today in order to rescue Indian students and citizens of other foreign states,” he said. It is also reported that places for temporary accommodation and rest have been set up at the checkpoints. “The evacuees will be then transported to the city of Belgorod for subsequent departure to their homeland by air, including via Russian military airplanes,” said General Mizintsev.
However, these buses are supposed to be 50-60 km away from Sumy.
Also on Friday, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine advised Indian students to pass through the Polish borders of Budomeirz and Shehyni-Medyka during the daytime to avoid waiting at these points at night as arrangements have been made for smooth movements at these points.
In a fresh advisory to Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine amid ongoing Russia’s military operations, it further said that in case of any medical emergency, nearby border guards may be contacted immediately. Ambulances are ready to help you at all check posts. “Embassy team visited Polish borders of Budomeirz and Shehyni-Medyka. Smooth movements at these points have been facilitated. Students are advised to pass through these borders during the day to avoid waiting at these points at night,” it said in a tweet.
An Indian student, Harjot Singh, has been hospitalised after he was shot with a bullet in the capital city of Ukraine, a few days after an Indian student lost his life in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking exclusively to ANI, Minister of State (MoS) for Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) General V.K. Singh revealed the information at Poland’s Rzeszow airport on Thursday (local time). “A student from Kyiv was reported to have been shot and was immediately admitted to the hospital in Kyiv,” General Singh said. “The Indian embassy had earlier cleared on the priority that everyone should leave Kyiv. In the event of war, the gun bullet does not look at anyone’s religion and nationality,” he added.
Government of India will bear the expenses for medical treatment of the Indian student who sustained multiple bullet injuries, said the MEA on Friday.
Arindam Bagchi said, “Government of India will be bearing expenses for Harjot Singh’s medical treatment in Kyiv, Ukraine. We are trying to ascertain his medical status. Our embassy is trying to get an update on his health status and is trying to reach out but facing trouble as it is a conflict zone.” “We are reiterating that we are not aware of any Indian being held hostage. They are facing difficulty due to security reasons, particularly in Kharkiv, Ukraine, but no hostage situation,” he added.
Speaking from his hospital bed in Kyiv, Harjot Singh urged the Indian embassy in Ukraine to evacuate him and help him with documentation. Harjot Singh told ANI that he sustained multiple injuries due to bullets fired at the car in which he was travelling. “This is a February 27 incident. We were three people in a cab on our way to the third checkpoint where we were told to return due to security reasons. While coming back, multiple bullets were fired at our car due to which I sustained multiple bullet injuries,” Harjot Singh said. The Indian student said he regained consciousness at 10 pm on March 2 night. “The doctors explained to me everything that I was shot and I was brought to hospital from the spot. They told me that I kept lying on the road for nearly four hours. I had lost a lot of blood. Two bullets hit my left leg, one my other leg and a bullet entered my chest. They extracted the bullet from my chest and I continue to have pain. My leg has been plastered but I am much better than before,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired another meeting on Friday to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine.
Meanwhile the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya about the fate and future of all MBBS students admitted to medical schools or colleges in Ukraine and now returning to India from the war-hit country. It urged the Centre to adjust all evacuated Indian medical students in existing medical schools in the country through an appropriate disbursed distribution.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS