In a first since its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army helped evacuate three Indians stranded in the south Ukrainian city of Kherson, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday, 16 March. Russia had captured Kherson earlier this month.
Of the three Indian nationals, one is a student and the others are businesspersons.
The Indian Embassy in Moscow had reportedly facilitated the evacuation of these three Indians via Simferopol (Crimea) and Moscow.
A diplomat from the Indian Embassy in Moscow told The Indian Express that it had facilitated "their boarding of a convoy of buses to Simferopol and then helped them come to Moscow by train, after which they boarded their flight on Tuesday."
While the student was heading to Chennai, the two business persons were headed to Ahmedabad, the diplomat added.
Since the last week of January, over 22,000 Indians have managed to flee Ukraine, which continues to be hit by the Russian invasion. India had also evacuated over 17,000 Indians by arranging special flights under 'Operation Ganga'.
However, most of the Indians had fled war-torn Ukraine from Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovak Republic, which are along the western borders. This is the first time that Indians left the country via its eastern border and via Russia. Also, this is the first instance in which the Russian army helped in the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine.
(With inputs from The Indian Express.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)