PM Modi calls Russian President Putin; Discussion on safe evacuation of Indians

“The leaders reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in the city of Kharkiv where several Indian students are stranded. They discussed the evacuation of Indian nationals from conflict zones,” the PMO statement said.

The Prime Minister is speaking to leaders of several countries who have shared their concerns about the crisis in Ukraine. On Monday, PM Modi spoke with Slovakian counterpart Eduard Hager, while on Tuesday he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel and Polish President Andrzej Duda and shared his concerns over the humanitarian situation in Ukraine .

Earlier today, the prime minister chaired a high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis, as India ramped up its efforts to evacuate its citizens, mostly students, from the country under attack from Russia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal besides senior officials attended the meeting.

Embassy urges Indians to leave Kharkiv

Meanwhile, in an urgent advisory, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine advised Indians to arrive in the Ukrainian cities of Pesochin, 11 km from Kharkiv, Babai (12 km) and Bezludivka (16 km) at 6 pm local time (9:30 pm). asked for. IST). The advisory came a day after Russia stepped up attacks on major cities in Ukraine and an Indian medical student was killed in shelling in Kharkiv.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a media briefing that the Indian embassy, ​​based on information received from the Russian side, asked the citizens to leave Kharkiv immediately.

On the second day of the day, the advisor said, “Students who can’t find a vehicle or bus and are in the railway station can walk to Pesochin, Babai and Bezlydivka.”

“Proceed immediately. Under all circumstances, Indians should reach these settlements by 1800 hours (Ukrainian time) today,” it said.

(with inputs from agencies)