Russia-Ukraine Crisis: No Immediate Plans To Evacuate Indians, Says MEA

Russia-Ukriane Crisis: MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Indian carriers have been encouraged to operate chartered flights between India and Ukraine.

Russian military vehicles arriving in Belarus are seen in this photograph distributed by the Belarus Ministry of Defense

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said there were no immediate plans to evacuate Indian nationals in Ukraine in view of the prevailing situation in that country over its tensions with Russia.

Addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Indian carriers have been encouraged to operate chartered flights between India and Ukraine. 

READ | Civil Aviation Ministry Removes Curbs On Number Of To And From Flights From Ukraine

"No immediate evacuation plans, so don't have any special flights.However, there were limited number of flights under air bubble arrangements. Restrictions on number of flights and passengers have been removed. Indian carriers being encouraged to operate chartered flights between India and Ukraine," Bagchi said.

The MEA spokesperson said the Indian Embassy in Ukraine was functioning normally and providing services to Indian nationals. It also asked Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.

"You would've seen developments being monitored by Embassy. They've issued couple of advisories. We've set up control rooms...I don't think any decision on evacuation has been taken," Bagchi said.

"When we issue an advisory, we take on board developments that are happening as well as our assessment of how we can assist our citizens there. Our focus is and remains on Indian citizens, Indian students, Indian nationals rather than anything larger than that," the MEA said.

The MEA said it was supportive of immediate de-escalation of tensions and resolution of the issue through sustained diplomatic dialogue.

India has advised its citizens, especially the students, to temporarily leave Ukraine in view of the uncertainties of the current situation. The Indian embassy in Kyiv has said more flights were being planned in the near future.

On Thursday, the Centre removed curbs on the number of flights that can be operated between India and Ukraine under the bilateral air bubble arrangement but announced no plan to evacuate its nationals.

The MEA has also set up a control room to provide information and assistance to Indian nationals in Ukraine. The contact details of the control room in Delhi are: Phone +91 11 23012113, +91 11 23014104, +91 11 23017905 and 1800118797 (toll free). Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in.

The contact details of the helpline in the Indian embassy in Ukraine are: Phone, +380 997300428 +380 997300483, Email: cons1.kyiv@mea.gov.in.

Tensions escalated this week between Moscow and the NATO countries over Russia's increasing military build-up close to the Ukrainian border.

The US has already sent extra troops to Europe to support its allies in the backdrop of fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has been denying that it plans to invade Ukraine. It withdrew some of its forces from the border on Tuesday.

(With inputs from PTI)