AMN / WEB DESK
An Indian student has lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Tuesday morning. In a series of tweets, the External Affairs Ministry conveyed its deepest condolences to the family.
The Ministry said, it is in touch with his family. It informed that the Foreign Secretary is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate India’s demand for urgent safe passage for its nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. Similar action is also being undertaken by the Indian Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine.
Official sources said India had already taken up with the Russian and Ukrainian Embassies the pressing requirement of safe passage for Indian nationals, including students, from Kharkiv and other cities in conflict zones. This demand has been repeatedly made of Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of this conflict on 24th of February.
The sources also said it is imperative that Russia and Ukraine respond to India’s need for safe passage urgently. From the Indian side, the preparations for evacuation have been in place for sometime now. An Indian team has been positioned in the Russian city of Belgorod, close to the Ukrainian border. However, the conflict situation in and around Kharkiv and nearby cities has been an obstacle. In places where the conflict has not endangered movement, India has been able to evacuate its citizens. Sources also said that more than 9000 Indian nationals have been brought out of Ukraine while a considerable number are now in safer areas.
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Just in from MEA! All of our nationals have left #Kiev Evacuation from #Kharkiv is top priority now! We’ve evacuated 12K out of 20K To operate 26 flights over next 3 days IAF C-17 aircraft to leave at 4am for Romania