Russia bid to provide safe passage to Indian students

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 2

Russia has said it was in touch with India on the safety of Indians in Kharkiv and Sumy, and was working “intensely” to create a humanitarian corridor for their safe passage.

“We are working intensely on creating the corridor and secure safe passage for Indians stuck in various conflict zones in Ukraine,’’ said Russian Ambassador-designate Denis Alipov here on Wednesday.

An Indian student was killed in apparent Russian shelling in Kharkiv while there students trapped in the fighting in cities close to the Russian border in eastern Ukraine have made desperate appeals for help and suggested that Moscow should facilitate their evacuation.

Alipov said India had taken an unbiased position based on assessment of the situation in Ukraine and not because it is dependent on Russian arms. We do coordinate our positions at the UN and inform India about our approach. We do everything possible to keep India up-to-date on what is happening,’’ he observed.

Alipov said he does not see any hurdle in the supply of the S-400 missile systems to India because of the Western sanctions against Russia.

Meanwhile another Indian, who was critically ill, died of natural causes in Ukraine. Chandal Jindal from Barnala had suffered a stroke and was in coma. The 22-year-old youth passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest.