Arindam Bagchi, MEA SpokespersonPhoto : ANINew Delhi: India on Saturday expressed “deep concern” over the security of its students stranded in war-torn Ukraine and “strongly” pressed both Russia and Ukraine for an immediate ceasefire for their safe evacuation.Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said the Indian students have been advised to take safety precautions and avoid unnecessary risks.Taking to his official Twitter handle, he said, “We are deeply concerned about Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine. Have strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe corridor for our students.”
We are deeply concerned about Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine. Have strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governm… t.co/RCAGlmwFKi— ANI (@ANI) Mar 5, 2022″Have advised our students to take safety precautions, stay inside shelters and avoid unnecessary risks,” he added.Bagchi said the MEA and Indian embassies are in regular touch with the students.Yesterday, the MEA confirmed that around 700 Indians were stranded in Ukraine’s Sumy city. The ministry added that India is primarily focussing on evacuating its nationals out of the conflict zones in eastern Ukraine, including Kharkiv and Sumy, adding that the number of Indians stuck in Ukraine could be roughly in the range of 2,000 to 3,000.Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan yesterday informed that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far.The government has deployed ‘special envoys’ to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is overseeing evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Gen VK Singh in Poland.Related News’Exploring all possible mechanisms for safe evacuation’: India amid SOS calls from students in Ukraine’s Sumy