Ready to evacuate foreigners from Ukraine: Russia

Russia has told the UN Security Council that their buses are ready at crossing points to go to the eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Sumy to evacuate Indian students and other foreigners who are stranded Ukraine.

The 15-nation UNSC held an emergency session on Friday, called by Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, following Russia's attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.

During the meeting, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said, the Russian military is doing everything to ensure peaceful evacuation of foreign nationals stranded in Ukraine, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

He alleged Ukraine nationalists were keeping over 3,700 Indian citizens by force in Kharkiv and Sumy cities of the country's eastern side.

“Terrorists do not let civilians leave cities. This impacts not only Ukrainians but foreigners as well. The number of foreign citizens whom Ukrainian nationals are keeping by force is shocking. Kharkiv has 3,189 nationals of India, up to 2,700 nationals of Vietnam, 202 nationals of China. Sumy has 576 nationals of India, 101 nationals of Ghana, 121 nationals of China,” Nebenzia told the Council.

In Belgorod region of Russia, 130 comfortable buses have been waiting (and standing ready) at the crossing points Nekhoteevka' and Sudja' ready to go to Kharkiv and Sumy to evacuate the Indian students and other foreign nationals, he said.

The Russian envoy said that the checkpoints are equipped to provide temporary accommodation, space for rest, and hot food. There are also mobile medical stations with a stock of medications.

“Everyone evacuated will then be taken to Belgorod and from there transported to their homeland by air,” he said.

In New Delhi, responding to reports of Indian students being held hostage in Ukraine, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi had said a couple of days ago that India has not received any reports of any hostage situation regarding Indian students.