-Reshma Ravishanker

Refuting Russia’s claim that Indian students are being held hostage in Ukraine, the Indian government has said that they are in constant touch with the nationals and that there was no evidence to substantiate this allegation.

This comes a day after Kremlin claimed that Ukraine had held Indian students hostage as a “security shied” by the Ukranian forces and not allowed to leave.

Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, assured that no such reports were heard from Ukraine and that the Indian authorities were in constant communication with those stranded there.

Meanwhile, in an official statement on Thursday, India’s ministry of external affairs said, “Our embassy in Ukraine is in continuous touch with Indian nationals in Ukraine. We note that with cooperation of Ukranian authorities, many students have left Kharkiv yesterday. We have not received any report regarding the hostage situation regarding any student. We have requested support of the Ukranian authorities in arranging special trains for taking out students from Kharkiv and neighboring areas to the western part of the country.”

The ministry also thanked countries neighbouring Ukraine who assisted in the safe evacuation of Indians back home. “We have been coordinating effectively with the countries in the region of Russia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova. A large number of Indian nations have been evacuated from Ukraine in the last few days. We appreciate the help extended by Ukranian authorities to make this possible. We thank Ukraine’s western neighbours for receiving Indian nationals and for accommodating them while they wait for flights to be taken back home.”  

Also read: Indian students stare at uncertainty over completing MBBS in Ukraine