Russia, carrying
out a massive offensive against Ukraine, told the United Nations Security
Council that it is taking steps to evacuate foreign nationals from war-hit
regions of the country. Russia’s comment came after India called for a
ceasefire in the conflict zones of Sumy and Kharkiv. The ceasefire has since
been declared.

In Friday’s emergency
session of the UN Security Council, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN
Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said that Russian troops are doing all they can
to evacuate foreign nationals stranded in Ukraine. The official further accused
Ukraine of not letting foreign nationals go.

“Terrorists do not
let civilians leave cities. This impacts not only Ukrainians but foreigners as
well. The number of foreign citizens whom Ukraine nationals are keeping by
force is shocking,” Vassily Nebenzia told the UNSC.

According to
Nebenzia, 3,189 Indian nationals, 2,700 Vietnamese nationals, 202 Chinese
nationals are stuck in Kharkiv. In Sumy, 576 Indian nationals, 101 Ghana nationals
and 121 Chinese nationals are stranded.

Nebenzia further
said 130 buses await foreign nationals stranded in Ukraine in Belgorod, Russia
from where they will be moved to their home countries.

On Saturday morning,
the Indian embassy in Ukraine, tweeted, “Exploring all possible mechanisms to
evacuate citizens in Sumy, safely and securely. Discussed evaluations and identification
of exit routes with interlocutors including Red Cross. Control room will
continue to be active until all our citizens are evacuated.”

Students stuck in
Sumy have called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help them amid the
crisis. They say bombs are being dropped near their university campus and gunfights
and air raids are heard around.

“We have been
expecting the government to help, but we have got no information. Some are
saying buses are waiting at the Russian border, which is about 50km from here.
If we walk from the hostel, there are snipers in all four directions,
everywhere. We fear airstrikes. Bombardments is happening every 20 minutes,”
the students said in a video.