Kharkiv:
Ukraine – The Indian embassy yesterday ordered the immediate evacuation of Indians in Kharkiv for security reasons as the Russian war intensifies.
The Indian embassy was asking Indians staying in Kharkiv to move to safer areas of Pesosin, Papaya and Besliudovka.
The deadline was set for 6 p.m., Ukrainian time. However, it was reported that Indian students were having great difficulty in getting out of there.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has accused Ukrainian forces of holding a group of Indian students hostage in Kharkiv.
According to our information, a large group of Indian students who want to leave Ukrainian territory and go to Belgorod have been forcibly detained by Ukrainian military officials in Kharkiv, a Russian military spokesman said.
In fact, they have been held hostage. The Russian military is ready to take all necessary steps to ensure the safe evacuation of Indian civilians. He also said he was ready to send them to India by his own military transport planes or Indian planes from Russian territory.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi had telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the Ukraine issue, asking him to allow Indian students in Kharkiv to leave and for the Russian military to help Indians return home safely.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said that the Ukrainian military is holding Indian students hostage.