India sends ministers to Ukraine's neighbours for smooth evacuation

Amid Russian attack on Ukraine, the Indian government has decided to send Union ministers to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation process of Indians still stuck in the war-torn country. Chartering additional flights and arranging local transport in coordination with Central European countries bordering Ukraine are also part of the strategy.

The decisions were taken at high-level meetings chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia, Hardeep Puri, Kiren Rijiju and VK Singh will travel to Ukraine's neighbouring countries to coordinate the evacuation mission, officials said. Scindia will handle operations in Romania and Moldova, Rijiju in Slovakia, Puri in Hungary and Singh in Poland. Evacuation from Ukraine was India's topmost priority, government sources said.

The PM pointed out that the visit of four senior ministers as his special envoys to various nations will energise the evacuation efforts. "It is reflective of the priority the government attaches to this matter," according to a MEA statement.


The PM noted that the first consignment of relief supplies to deal with the humanitarian situation on Ukraine's borders would be dispatched on Tuesday. The PM also said India will help people from India's neighbouring countries and developing countries who are stranded in Ukraine and may seek assistance.




In the meanwhile, Modi spoke with Eduard Heger, PM of the Slovak Republic, a transit point for Indian students who are being evacuated from Ukraine. He requested for the Slovak Republic's continued assistance. The PM expressed his anguish at the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and reiterated India's appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue. PM Modi stressed upon the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, as per a PMO statement.

Modi also spoke on phone with Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca, PM of Romania, and particularly appreciated Romania's gesture in allowing Indian citizens to enter Romania without visas, and for permitting special evacuation flights from India.

Codenamed Operation Ganga, the mission is challenging given the circumstances including road journeys for Indians in Ukraine and obstacles created by Ukrainian border guards along the Polish border. The MEA said a total of 1,396 Indians were brought back in six flights as part of the evacuation mission and the total number of Indians who have left Ukraine since India issued the first advisory earlier this month is around 8,000.