New Delhi: As Russian invasion in Ukraine entered its fifth day today, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said situation on the ground continues to remain complex and fluid. 


In a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that a new route through the bordering country of Moldova has been made operational and teams have been deployed to assist Indians.  









He further informed that 8000 Indians have already left Ukraine since the advisory was issued and not when the conflict began. 


 






Several flights of Air India are operating for evacuation of Indians from Romania and Hungary.


“As of now, six flights have arrived carrying around 1400 Indian citizens. Four flights have arrived from Bucharest (Romania) and two flights from Budapest (Hungary),” Bagchi said. 


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As foreign nationals stuck in Ukraine are moving towards border areas to be evacuated, the border points are seeing huge crowds. In this regard, Bagchi requested Indians stuck in Ukraine to not directly reach the borders. 


“We request Indians to go to West Ukraine but don't reach the border directly as there's a rush there, it'll take time. Go to nearby cities, seek shelter there. We're making arrangements there, our teams will help you. Don't panic, we have enough flights.”


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Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has been deployed to oversee evacuation in Moldova. He will also oversee evacuation in Romania. Three more special envoys have been sent, Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju to Slovak Republic, Hardeep Puri to Hungary, VK Singh to Poland to overlook evacuation operations. 


“We will send humanitarian aid including medicines to Ukraine,” he added.