Kyiv/New Delhi, Feb 25 (FN Representative) More than 470 Indian students are set to exit Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret border on Friday, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine said. It said that Indians at the border are being moved to neighbouring countries for onward evacuation. In a tweet, it said: “Today afternoon more than 470 students will exit the Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret Border. “We are moving Indians located at the border to neighbouring countries for onward evacuation. Efforts are underway to relocate Indians coming from the hinterland.”
Earlier, the Embassy in an advisory notified two border points in western Ukraine for evacuation of Indians to the countries of Romania and Hungary. It also asked Indians to prominently paste the Indian flag on buses and vehicles while travelling to the border points of Chop-Zahony on the Hungarian border near Uzhhorod, and Porubne-Siret, on the Romanian border near Chernivtsi.
The advisory read: “In this difficult situation, the Embassy of India requests Indians to continue to remain strong, safe and alert. The Embassy is also working round the clock to support the Indian community in Ukraine. Government of India and the Embassy of India are working to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary. At present teams are getting in place at the following check points “CHOP-ZAHONY- HungarianBorder near Uzhhorod; PORUBNE-SIRET on the Romanian border near Chernivtsi. “Indian nationals, especially students living closest to the above border checkpoints are being advised to depart first in an organized manner, in coordination with teams from the Ministry of External Affairs to actualize this option. “Once above routes are operational, Indian nationals travelling by their own arrangements for transport would be advised to proceed to above border check points, and remain in touch with the Helpline Numbers set up at respective check points for facilitation through the border.
“Numbers would be shared once the control rooms are established,” it said. “Students are advised to remain in touch with student contractors, for orderly movement.” It asked Indians to carry their passports, cash preferably in USD for any emergency expenses, and other essentials; Covid-19 vaccination certification if available; and a Print out of the Indian flag which should be pasted prominently on vehicles and buses while travelling. In another development, the Ministry of External Affairs’ camp offices in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western Ukraine to help with evacuation of Indian nationals were operational on Friday. Additional Russian speaking officials were being sent to these Camp Offices. Officials there are assisting Indian citizens who reach these cities, and will facilitate their departure from Ukraine through adjoining border crossings, the sources added. The first batch of Indian students have now left Chernivtsi for the Ukraine-Romania border, the sources said. Lviv is 70 km from the border with Poland, while Chernivtsi is near the border with Romania.