NEW DELHI/MELBOURNE, 25 February 2022: As the crisis in Ukraine escalates with the Russian ‘special operations’ attacking infrastructure and military targets, India which has an estimated more than 20,000 nationals in Ukraine, are being evacuated through land routes to bordering countries. The Ukraine airspace is closed and the second Indian rescue flight could not land there, the land routes with Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Romania will be used.
Reports indicate about 4,000 Indian nationals have already left Ukraine and 20,000 Indian nationals have registered with the Indian Embassy in Kiev.
A Tweet by MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi says, ” To assist in the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, MEA Teams from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania are on their way to the adjoining land borders with Ukraine. Indian nationals in Ukraine near the border points can contact these teams
The Indian Embassy in Kiew is open. Partha Satpathy, Ambassador of India in Ukraine, reports ANI, that the Embassy of India in Kiev will continue to operate till every Indian is evacuated.
“The Embassy of India in Kiev continues to operate round the clock 24X7. Today morning we woke up with the news that Kiev is under attack, the whole of Ukraine is under attack. This has generated a lot of anxiety, uncertainty, and created tension. I would like to assure all of you that the Embassy of India continues to operate around the clock looking out for the safety and security of Indians here,” he said.
The Indian Embassy in Kiev has arranged for the accommodation of 200 Indian students stuck in Ukraine.
He further urged people to stay calm, level-headed and take necessary safety and precautions.
“The Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy are fully alert and working on modalities to see how we can evacuate our citizens through the neighbouring countries along the western borders of Ukraine. As I say times are uncertain and therefore it is important to be calm, level-headed and take necessary safety and precautions that are important to all of us. We will continue to operate here till every Indian is back,” he added.
The Embassy of India in Ukraine accommodated more than 200 Indian students at a school near the Embassy in Kiev.
Indian nationals can contact the following persons— S Ramji, (Mobile: +36305199944, Whatsapp: +917395983990), Ankur (Mobile and Whatsapp: +36308644597), and Mohit Nagpal (Mobile: +36302286566, Whatsapp: +918950493059)— at Zahony border post opposite Uzhhorod in Zakarpattia Oblast of Ukraine.
In Krakowiec land border with Ukraine, people can contact Pankaj Garg (Mobile: +48660460814 / +48606700105), Manoj Kumar (Mobile: +421908025212), Ivan Kozinka (Mobile: +421908458724) can be contacted at Vysne Nemecke land border with Ukraine.
Moreover, Gaushul Ansari (Mobile: +40731347728), Uddeshya Priyadarshi (Mobile: +40724382287), Andra Harionov (Mobile: +40763528454) and Marius Sima (Mobile: +40722220823) can be contacted at Suceava land border with Ukraine.
“Indian nationals in Ukraine near the above border points can contact the above teams in case they wish to depart Ukraine,” said MEA in a statement.
