Russian defence ministry warns Kyiv residents to leave
Russia’s defence ministry is warning residents in Kyiv to leave their homes as it plans to strike targets in the Ukrainian capital, Russian state news agency Tass is reporting.
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, the defence ministry says Russian forces are preparing to launch “high-precision strikes” against the “Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)
Of the remaining 40% of Indians in Ukraine, roughly half remain in conflict zone in Kharkiv, Sumy area and the other half have either reached the western borders of Ukraine or are heading towards the western part of Ukraine. "...They are generally out of conflict areas": Foreign Secretary Shringla
Indian Air Force C-17 transport aircraft to leave for Romania at 4 am tomorrow to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine. The aircraft will take off from its home base in Hindan near Delhi
Meanwhile, Russian forces have attacked a television tower in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, potentially disrupting its signal, Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko said.
Over the next 3 days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring out Indian citizens apart from Bucharest and Budapest. Airports in Poland and Slovak Republic will also be used: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla
New Delhi : India defended its decision to chose the middle path and abstain from voting in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the Ukraine crisis and said the government's move is directed by what is in the "best interest" of the country.
"In United Nations we take positions that are based on certain careful considerations and certainly, we do regard the merits of each and every case that comes before us...take decisions in our best interest: Foreign Secy Harsh V Shringla on reconsidering India's stand at UNSC.
On safety and security of Indians he said on Monday, Feb 28, PM Narendra Modi spoke to his counterparts from Slovak Republic and Romania to seek assistance in continued support to the evacuation efforts.
"He has just now (on Tuesday evening) spoken to President of Poland in a similar endeavour. He also received calls from Presidents of France and EU," Shringla said.
"We had an estimated 20,000 Indian students in Ukraine at the time that we issued our first advisory. From that number approximately 12,000 have since left Ukraine, which is 60% of the total number of our citizens in Ukraine," the Foreign Secretary said.
On Naveen's casualty:
"Naveen's body taken to morgue in university; did speak to his parents in Karnataka earlier today. We'll not only try and evacuate our nationals from conflict zone as soon as possible but also bring back Naveen's body. We are in touch with local authorities in that regard," Foreign Secy.
Had advised all our nationals in Kyiv to head to western parts & exit from there whenever they can. They can go towards Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Poland & Moldova. 7700 nationals have exited through these routes, 2000 have returned & 4000-5000 waiting for aircraft: Foreign Secy Shringla
Two tonnes of humanitarian aid including tents, blankets, surgical gloves, protective eye gear, water storage tanks, sleeping mats, tarpaulin & medicines have been sent to Ukraine.
A flight left this morning carrying the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, through Poland. The consignment comprised medicines, medical equipment & other relief material. Another flight tomorrow will carry a 2nd consignment,also through Poland: Foreign Secretary
An Indian student lost his life in Kharkiv today as a result of shelling.
Victim is Naveen from Karnataka.
The deteriorating situation in Kharkiv is a matter of grave concern. The safety and security of Indian nationals in that city is of utmost priority to Government.
The government of India has 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 February 24. It has been conveyed to both their Ambassadors in New Delhi as well as taken up in their capitals.
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.
Therefore, it is imperative that Russia and Ukraine respond to our need for safe passage urgently.
"We have confirmed from MEA the unfortunate demise of Naveen Shekharappa in #Ukraine. He was from Chalageri, Haveri; had left for a nearby store to buy something. Later his friend got a call from a local official that he (Naveen) has died": Manoj Rajan, Commissioner, Karnataka, state Disaster Management
In places where the conflict has not endangered movement, we have been able to evacuate our citizens. More than 9000 Indian nationals have been brought out of Ukraine while a considerable number are now in safer areas.
We will continue to make utmost efforts to ensure the return our citizens stranded in Ukraine.
No comments:
Post a Comment