Latest Update: (March 2, 2022): With the Ukraine-Russia conflict continuously endangering the lives of foreigners, including Indian students studying medicine in the country, stakeholders and government officials have urged for a safe passage for them.
According to the Indian Express, Denis Alipov, the Russian Envoy to India, announced a solution, a “humanitarian corridor”, is in the works, where Indians will find a safe passageway through the Russian Ukrainian border. Denis Alipov is the ambassador-designate, yet to present his credential to the President of India.
Previously, concerns over the safety of Indians stuck in the eastern and northeastern territories of the country, i.e. the conflict zone, were raised by India. Estimated data reveals that around 4,000 Indians, comprising mostly of students studying medicine in Ukraine are stranded in the conflict zones.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla reached out to the ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine, seeking “urgent safe passage” of the Indian national stranded in Kharkiv and other zones.
A source spoke to the Indian Express, stating that “preparations for evacuations have been in place for some time now”, with an Indian Team stationed in Belgorod, Russia. As per the source, Kharkiv is nearly 40 km from the Ukraine-Russia border, however, the conflict in the cities nearby and Kharkiv has been a challenge.
Source: The Indian Express
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(March 1, 2022): More Than 9000 Indians Evacuated from Ukraine
The Indian government has been successful in evacuating 9,000 Indian nationals. PM Modi is continually monitoring the Ukraine-Russia situation and coordinating with the neighbouring states of Ukraine. The special flight of Operation Ganga has started its return journey from Bucharest to Delhi.
Arindam Bagchi, the representative of the Indian Embassy, has stated that they are working on their demand for secure passage of Indian people stuck in Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has requested the central government to urgently send help to the Indians stuck in Ukraine. Kiren Rijuju has assured that he will seek assistance from the Slovakian government and will be prioritising the safe arrival of Indian citizens.
The Indian Embassy in Kyiv has been successful in the movement westwards of more than 1,400 Indian students out of Zaporizhzhia, a southeast city of Ukraine. Minister Mr Hardeep Singh Puri has set out for Budapest to help in the evacuation of Indians. Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Law and Justice has also set out on SpiceJet's special evacuation flight to Slovakia which will fly at 3.30 pm on March 1, 2022, from New Delhi to Kosice, Slovakia. Meanwhile, another flight has arrived from Hungary carrying Indian students and they have been welcomed by Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Health Minister.
An Indian students' group entered Poland from Ukraine to travel to India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought the help of the Indian Air Force to speed up the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine. The Indian Air Force is expected to deploy several C-17 aircraft as part of Operation Ganga from March 1.
The decision to deploy C-17 aircraft as part of Operation Ganga was taken after another round of high-level meetings on current the Ukraine-Russia situation and its impact on Indian nationals.
PM Modi has also notified President Ram Nath Kovind on the Ukraine issue and elaborated on the government's efforts to bring the Indians including the students stuck in cities and border points of Ukraine.
The eighth flight of Operation Ganga has reached New Delhi from Budapest. Students have thanked the government as the evacuation process was smooth.
The government has further notified that of the estimated 20,000 Indians who were present in Ukraine, around 8,000 including students have left the country since its first Ukraine advisory for Indians released earlier in February.
Source: The Times of India
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(Feb 28,2022): The Indian students who returned from Ukraine on February 26, 2022, at Mumbai Airport conveyed their appreciation to the government. The majority of the youngsters were observed expressing heartfelt appreciation to the Indian government. We are all proud of our nation, and we applaud the Indian government, said another student.
In the midst of the present Ukraine-Russia conflict, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv has recommended Indian people not to travel to any border checkpoints without first consulting government authorities at the checkpoints.
Aboard Saturday, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Minister Anil Parab, and Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar along with the families of pupils, welcomed 219 students who had returned from war-torn Ukraine on an Air-India aircraft at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India.
Also Read: Students from India Flock to Ukraine for its Low Fees and Quality Education
The level 6 arrival gate at Chhatrapati Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) was packed with people bearing garlands and bouquets as they awaited refugees from Ukraine on board AI1944, which landed at 7.50 p.m on February 26.
Goyal remarked that since the beginning of the crisis, the major goal has been to bring back every Indian who has become stuck in Ukraine. The first batch of 219 students landed on February 26, and the second will arrive in Delhi in the early hours of February 27, 2022. The Indian government will not relent until all of them have returned home.
According to the minister, the government is focusing on ensuring the safety of our students and residents. He further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with the Ukrainian President and emphasised the protection of Indian citizens. The Russians have also pledged to assist in the evacuation of all Indians.
Also Read: International Students Currently Stranded in Ukraine Scramble to Find Safe Shelter
At least 1,200 people from Maharashtra are stranded in Ukraine. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has stated that 366 of them have made contact with the state government, and 60 of them were evacuated on the initial flight from Romania to Mumbai.
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Source: The Economic Times
