India will send humanitarian assistance including medicines to war-torn Ukraine, the External Affairs Ministry said on Monday. MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the country would also send four Union ministers as special envoys to the countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation of Indian citizens.
“Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia will be going to Romania, Kiren Rijiju to Slovak Republic, Hardeep Puri to Hungary and V.K. Singh to Poland,” Bagchi said. Scindia will also oversee the evacuation process in Moldova, he added.
According to the ministry, around 8,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since the country issued the first advisory. “The evacuation efforts are on...Situation on the ground continues to be complex and fluid, some of them quite concerning, but we have been able to accelerate our evacuation process,” Bagchi said.
As of now, six flights have arrived carrying around 1,400 Indian citizens from Ukraine since Russia launched its military operation. Four flights have arrived from Bucharest (Romania) and two flights from Budapest (Hungary).
With the Ukrainian airspace being closed for civilian aircraft, India is evacuating its citizens through its neighbouring countries.
“We request Indians to go to West Ukraine, but don't reach the border directly as there's rush there. It'll take time. Go to nearby cities, seek shelter there. We are making arrangements. Our teams will help you. Don't panic, we have enough flights,” Bagchi said.
The Russian attack on Ukraine began four days ago. India started issuing advisories in mid-February, asking Indians to consider leaving Ukraine after tensions increased between Moscow and Kyiv.
