India will send humanitarian aid, including medicines to war-torn Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.
In addition, the MEA said four Union Ministers would be sent as special envoys to neighboring Ukraine to coordinate the deportation of Indians, including students, who are still trapped in war-torn countries.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will travel to Romania, Kiren Rijiju to the Slovak Republic, Hardeep Puri to Hungary, and VK Singh to Poland to coordinate and direct the evacuation process, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Informing them of the ongoing evacuation process, Bagchi said so far six flights carrying about 1400 Indians had arrived. Four flights have arrived from Bucharest (Romania) and two flights from Budapest (Hungary), he added.
A MEA spokesman went on to say that the situation in Ukraine continues to be complex, wet and tense, but “we have been able to speed up our exit process,” he said. “About 8000 Indians have left Ukraine since we issued the advice, since the beginning of the conflict,” he added.
Bagchi also told the Indians not to go straight to the border as there is a rush and evacuation may take some time. “We are asking the Indians to go to West Ukraine but not directly to the border as there is a rush, it will take time. Go to the nearby cities, look for a shleter. We are making arrangements there, our teams will help you.