Evacuation is being organized through Ukraine's borders with Romania, Hungary

As India establishes new evacuation routes for its citizens stuck in Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has appreciated his Ukrainian counterpart's support for their safe return.

Jaishankar discussed the predicament of Indian nationals, including students, when Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro
Kuleba called him on Friday to brief him about the current situation in Ukraine.

"Received call from Ukrainian FM @DmytroKuleba.

He shared his assessment of the current situation.I emphasized that India supports diplomacy & dialogue as the way out.

Discussed predicament of Indian nationals, including students. Appreciate his support for their safe return," Jaishankar said on Twitter.

The Indian government and the Indian Embassy in Ukraine are working in tandem to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary.

An advisory to all Indian nationals including students in Ukraine issued by the Indian Embassy in Kyiv on Friday requested them to continue to remain strong, safe and alert in this difficult situation.

“The Embassy is also working round the clock to support the Indian community in Ukraine,” it stated.

Noting that the Government of India and the Indian Embassy are working to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary, the advisory said that at present, teams are getting in place at Chop-Zahony Hungarian border near Uzhhorod and Porubne-Siret Romanian Border near Chernivtsi.

“Indian nationals living closest to the border checkpoints to depart first in an organised manner in coordination with teams from Ministry of External Affairs to actualize this option,” Friday’s advisory stated.

“Once the above routes are operational, Indian nationals travelling by their own arrangements for transport would be advised to proceed to above border check points and remain in touch with the Helpline numbers set up by the respective check-points for facilitation through the border,” it informed.

According to the advisory, numbers would be shared once control rooms are established.

It further said that students are advised to remain in touch with student contractors, for orderly movement.

Highlighting the important points, the advisory asked all Indian nationals to carry their passport, cash preferably in US Dollars for any emergency expenses and other essentials. It also asked citizens to carry Covid-19 double-vaccination certificate if available.

On Thursday, the Indian government had said that it is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine after Russia launched military operations in the Donbas region.

Stating that the focus is on safety and security of Indians, particularly students, sources said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) control room was being expanded and made operational on 24x7 basis.

Sources say that the situation had become delicate with Ukrainian airspace being shut down for civilian flights after Russia announced the launch of military operations to defend separatist groups towards the eastern part of Ukraine, known as the Donbas region.