New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs in its evening press briefing informed the operation of 16 flights in the next 24 hours inclusive of three IAFs C-17 aircraft. Spokesperson Aringdam Bagchi said that the GoI has requested Ukrainian authorities for special trains. However, as there has been no response yet, the ministry has managed buses to evacuate those stranded in the Eastern region of the country. “Evacuation looks difficult without a ceasefire. We urge the parties concerned to have a local ceasefire at least so that we can evacuate our people, said Mr Bagchi on being questioned about the evacuation of those stranded in the East, which has been witnessing heavy firing.
According to the information gathered, 20,000 Indian nationals left the Ukrainian border since the first advisory was issued.
It is further learnt that two IAF aircraft IL-76 have been kept on standby in Russia for those stranded in Kharkiv and Sumy. It is speculated that they will be lifted from Moscow- the Russian capital, officials said. To date, 1,428 Indians have been evacuated through seven flights from countries neighbouring Ukraine.