PM Modi instructed to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine much before CCS meet: Rajnath Singh
New Delhi, February 26: As the war between Russia and Ukraine entered its third day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given instructions to make necessary arrangements for bringing stranded students in Ukraine back long before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting.
"The day before PM Modi's meeting yesterday, a decision was taken to evacuate them (stranded students in Ukraine) at the Government of India's expense. In fact, the Prime Minister had instructed much earlier to make the necessary arrangements," Singh told reporters in Delhi while talking about the deteriorating situation in Ukraine.
"Our foreign minister has spoken to the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, and efforts are underway to bring them (students) safely," he said, adding "The situation should be normal, this is our wish."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier on Thursday, said at a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on the Ukraine situation that the government's top priority is the safety and security of Indian citizens, according to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
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Tensions between the two countries rose after Putin recognised Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities on Monday, escalating already-existing conflicts. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine won independence in 1991.
Meanwhile, the first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania.
"Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring. The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania," said External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday.
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The Indian Embassy in Kiev further advised Indian citizens "to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kiev."
As the situation in Ukraine worsens "Embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoints without prior intimation," it stated, advising Indians to stay in western cities of Ukraine where access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer.
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-PTC News
