New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed members of Rajya Sabha Today on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and evacuation efforts taken by the government to bring back home stranded Indian nationals.
During his address, the external affairs minister said, "Despite the challenges posed by the serious ongoing conflict, we have ensured that about 22,500 citizens have returned home safely."
The minister called Operation Ganga, launched to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Ukraine as one of the toughest evacuation exercises. He spoke about how shelling and airstrikes made the job of the government tougher.
"The exercise was undertaken at a time when military actions, incl airstrikes & shelling, were underway. It involved movement in a war-torn situation in a large country, at times over a 1000 kms & required exiting border checkpoints clogged by an estimated 26 lakh refugees," Jaishankar added.
On February 26, Operation Ganga was launched by the Centre to bring back Indian nationals caught in the conflict in Ukraine. A team of four Union Ministers - Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia and General VK Singh - was formed to coordinate rescue efforts with Ukraine's neighbours.
The government has so far succeeded in bringing back 22,500 stranded Indian citizens in more than 80 special evacuation flights since the conflict broke out between Russia and Ukraine on February 24.
India has also helped rescue citizens of neigbouring Bangladesh and Nepal stuck in the conflict.