• By Mukul Sharma
  • Fri, 25 Feb 2022 09:47 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: In a sight which evoked relief among the families of Indian nationals stuck in war-torn Ukraine, the first batch of Indian students left Chernivtsi for the Ukraine-Romania border and reached Romania later on Friday. Ministry of External Affairs’ Camp Offices are now operational in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western Ukraine. Additional Russian speaking officials are being sent to these Camp Offices, news agency ANI reported.

 
 
 
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Later on Friday, Indian embassy in Ukraine informed that more than 470 students will exit the Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret Border by the end of the day. "We are moving Indians located at the border to neighbouring countries for onward evacuation. Efforts are underway to relocate Indians coming from the hinterland," it said.

India's Ministry of External Affairs shared the visuals as first batch of Indian students reached Romania late Friday afternoon as per local time.

Earlier sources on Friday said that government of India will arrange evacuation flights for Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine. Officials said that Air India is planning to operate two flights to Romanian capital Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine. The cost of these flights will be borne by the government itself, sources added. 

Two flights to Bucharest in Romania today and one flight to Budapest in Hungary tomorrow are being planned to be operated as Government of India chartered flights, government sources informed on Friday.

Prior to this on Thursday, Chief Minister MK Stalin had written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene immediately to evacuate thousands of students from Tamil Nadu stranded in Ukraine. MK Stalin had also urged External Affairs Minister to nominate a nodal officer for better coordination with Tamil Nadu government.

Russia launched an all-out attack against Ukraine on Thursday by land, air and sea on Thursday, the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since the start of second World War. While many western countries responded with economic sanctions and trade restrictions against Vladimir Putin-led Russia, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed Putin for an immediate cessation of violence.

In its latest advisory for stranded Indians in Ukraine, Indian embassy in Kyiv informed that the government of India and Embassy of India in Kyiv are working to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary. Indian embassy informed that the evacuation teams for Indian nationals are getting in at “CHOP-ZAHONY Hungarian border near Uzhhorod PORUBNE-SIRET Romanian border near Chernivtsi”.  

Indian mission in Ukraine informed on Thursday that it has accomodated over 200 students stranded in Kyiv and necessary arrangements have been made for them.

Nearly 20,000 Indian students are stranded in Ukraine, most of whom are students.