Buses Waiting, Ready To Evacuate Indian Students From Ukraine, Russia Tells UN

United Nations: Russia has informed the UN Security Council (UNSC) that its buses were waiting at crossing points to go to Kharkiv and Sumy to evacuate Indian students and other foreigners.

At an emergency session of the UNSC on Friday, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that Ukraine nationalists were keeping over 3,700 Indians “by force” in Kharkiv and Sumy in eastern Ukraine.

“Terrorists do not let civilians leave cities. This impacts not only Ukrainians but foreigners as well. The number of foreign citizens whom Ukrainian nationals are keeping by force is shocking. Kharkiv — 3,189 nationals of India, up to 2,700 nationals of Vietnam, 202 nationals of China. Sumy — 576 nationals of India, 101 nationals of Ghana, 121 nationals of China,” Nebenzia said.

“In the Belgorod region of Russia, 130 comfortable buses have been waiting since 6 am today at the crossing points Nekhoteevka and Sudja ready to go to Kharkiv and Sumy to evacuate the Indian students and other foreign nationals,” he said.

He said that the checkpoints had temporary accommodation, space for rest and hot food. There are also mobile medical stations.

“Everyone evacuated will then be taken to Belgorod, and from there transported to their homeland by air,” he said.

India has appealed for a ceasefire to allow the evacuation of stranded nationals.

In New Delhi, responding to reports of Indian students being held hostage in Ukraine, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India has not received any reports of any hostage situation.

An Indian student, Harjot Singh from New Delhi, was shot at on Friday while trying to escape Kyiv. He was brought back to Kyiv and hospitalised.

Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagowda, a fourth-year medical student at Kharkiv National Medical University, was killed on Tuesday when he had stepped out and went to a nearby supermarket to buy groceries.