News Analysis India

Tag: Russia Ukraine Crisis

  • Zelenskyy Fires More Aides In A Reshuffle As Russia Launches Drones And Missiles Across Ukraine | world news

    KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed a longtime aide and several advisers on Saturday in a continuing reshuffle while Russia unleashed fresh attacks overnight. Zelenskyy dismissed top aide Serhiy Shefir from his post of first assistant, where he had served since 2019. The Ukrainian president also let go three advisers, and two presidential representatives overseeing volunteer activities and soldiers’ rights.

    No explanation was given immediately for the latest changes in a wide-reaching personnel shakeup over recent months. It included the dismissal on Tuesday of Oleksii Danilov, who served as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Valerii Zaluzhnyi as head of the armed forces on Feb. 8. He was appointed Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom earlier this month.

    Ukraine’s air force said Saturday that Russia launched 12 Shahed drones overnight, nine of which were shot down, and fired four missiles into eastern Ukraine. Russia unleashed a barrage of 38 missiles, 75 airstrikes and 98 attacks from multiple rocket launchers over the last 24 hours, Ukraine’s armed forces said in social media posts.

    Ukrainian energy company Centrenergo announced Saturday that the Zmiiv Thermal Power Plant, one of the largest thermal power plants in the eastern Kharkiv region, was completely destroyed following Russian shelling last week. Power outage schedules were still in place for around 120,000 people in the region, where 700,000 people had lost electricity after the plant was hit on March 22.

    Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent days, causing significant damage in several regions. Officials in the Poltava region said Saturday there had been “several hits” to an infrastructure facility, without specifying whether it was an energy facility.

    Meanwhile, the toll of Friday’s mass barrage of 99 drones and missiles hitting regions across Ukraine came to light on Saturday, with local officials in the Kherson region on Saturday morning announcing the death of one civilian. A resident of the Dnipropetrovsk region died in a hospital from shell wounds, according to regional Gov. Serhiy Lisak.

  • Benedict Cumberbatch voices his support for Ukraine

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Benedict Cumberbatch says it’s impossible to ignore the war in Ukraine.

    Speaking before the BAFTA event at the Royal Albert Hall in London, he shared: “We have brothers and sisters who are suffering. It is a really shocking time to be a European, two-and-a-half hours’ flight away from Ukraine. It’s something that hangs over us.”

    Cumberbatch is keen to do everything he can to support the people of Ukraine, following the Russian invasion of the country, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

    The actor said he would even like to be part of a programme to take in Ukrainian refugees.

    He told Sky News: “Everyone needs to do as much as they can. I think already today the news has broken that there’s been a record number of people volunteering to take people into their homes, and I hope to be part of that myself.”

    Stephen Graham has also voiced his support for the people of Ukraine.

    The 48-year-old actor insisted the war in eastern Europe cannot be ignored.

    Speaking on the red carpet, he said: “It’s lovely to be here with my family but at the same time it’s important for me to acknowledge in public what is happening over there.”

    Meanwhile, Sir Kenneth Branagh has spoken out about the war, saying he hopes it ends “very soon”.

    The acclaimed filmmaker can see tragic parallels with the conflict in Ukraine and his BAFTA-nominated movie ‘Belfast’, which is set amid The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

    He reflected: “The situations are utterly different but the human costs are the same. It is painful and tragic to see – I hope it ends very soon.”

  • Indian students can study in our country: Hungary PM Viktor Orban tells PM Narendra Modi

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke over the phone with the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban.

    The two leaders discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine and agreed on the need to ensure an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy and dialogue.

    PM Modi also conveyed his thanks to PM Orban and to the Hungarian government for facilitating the evacuation of more than 6000 Indian citizens through the Ukraine-Hungary border.

    PM Orban conveyed his best wishes to the Indian students who were evacuated from Ukraine and said that they could continue their studies in Hungary if they wanted to.

    PM Modi expressed his thanks on this kind offer.

    Both the leaders agreed to remain in touch, specially during the ongoing conflict as both of them wanted to work diplomatically and through dialogue to bring this conflict to an end.

    To facilitate the transfer of Indians from Hungary, the Indian Embassy in Hungary had on February 26th had issued an advisory saying that those stranded in Ukraine could cross into Hungary through the Zahony-Uzhhorod border crossing.

    “For this, a liaison unit from the Embassy of India had been stationed at Zahony and it was coordinating with the Consulate General of Hungary in Uzzhorod,” the advisory read. It also said that walk-ins were not permitted and those wanting to cross into Hungary had to do so via a bus or van.

  • 700-km road journey for injured Indian student before boarding flight; embassy hails driver

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Harjot Singh, the Indian student who sustained bullet injuries in Kyiv, was taken by road from the Ukranian capital to a border transit point 700 kilometres away under challenging circumstances so that he can board an evacuation flight to return home.

    Singh (31) landed at the Hindon Air Force station near Delhi on Monday evening on board a C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force that also brought back several other Indians from Poland.

    The Indian Embassy in Ukraine put out a series of tweets giving a sense of the challenging situation in which Singh was taken out of Kyiv.

    “Bringing Harjot Home. Indian student Harjot Singh who sustained bullet injuries at Kyiv was successfully transferred over more than 700km in the face of war zone constraints of bombing /shelling. Evacuated through Poland by IAF C17 Ac,” it tweeted.

    In another post, the embassy hailed the driver who transported Singh from Kyiv to the Bodomierz border point.

    “Kudos to Indian Embassy driver who successfully transferred Harjot over 700 km from Kyiv to Bodomierz border under dangers of shelling and constraints of fuel shortage, roadblocks, detours and traffic jams,” it said.

    India has been bringing back its nationals from Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova after they crossed over to these countries from Ukraine through land border transit points.

    Ukraine closed its airspace for civilian aircraft after Russia began its military operation.

    India has brought back over 17,100 of its nationals in 83 flights under “Operation Ganga”, which was launched on February 26 following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.

  • Despairing Indian students await rescue from Sumy, melting snow for water but clinging to hope

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Melting snow to slake their thirst and fast running out of supplies, hundreds of Indian students trapped in Ukraine’s Sumy stand on roads every morning hoping “today is the day” when they will be rescued from the savagery of the war that has engulfed the nation.

    The wait, however, has got longer as fierce fighting blocks their way to safety across the Russian border.

    They have abandoned the idea of undertaking an arduous journey to the Russian border on foot amid fusillades of artillery fire and missile barrages, a day after the Indian government assured them they will be evacuated safely.

    25-year-old Jisna Jiji, a medical student, said they have no option but to wait patiently as walking to the Russian border is fraught with danger.

    Exasperated, the students in Sumy had on Saturday posted a video clip declaring they had decided to risk the walk to the Russian border in biting cold amid the fighting, raising fears about their safety in the corridors of power in New Delhi.

    Soon after the video went viral, the Indian government asked the students to remain in shelters and assured them they will be rescued soon.

    Aashiq Hussain Sarkar, also a medical student, tweeted, “Every day at 6 AM students are waiting for buses on the road. We still believe today is the day. But they keep postponing the date everyday. So please Don’t break our Hopes. #Sumy”.

    With most roads and bridges destroyed in the city and no transport available, Jiji said it is “impossible” to reach the border.

    “Moreover, we have heard the few foreign students who had managed to reach the border were sent back by the military. So we have decided to wait,” Jiji said.

    Jiji said many students were crammed in the basements of their hostels, melting snow to quench their thirst with little food left and power and water lines snapped.

    “We are still in Sumy. We have not got any update yet when will we be evacuated. But we cannot continue like this for longer. Our problems are increasing day by day. We appeal to the government to update us immediately,” said a girl in a video message.

    “There is no water here, electricity supply has been disrupted. There’s no money in ATMs, girls don’t have sanitary napkins,” said another despairing student in the same video.

    India had on Saturday “strongly pressed” the Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire in Sumy to ensure a safe passage for around 700 Indian students stuck there.

    External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the government was not in favour of students venturing out till a safe passage was made available.

    Bagchi also said India’s main focus was now on evacuating the students stranded in Sumy, after the safe exit of Indians from Kharkiv and Pisochyn was almost complete.

    “STOP asking #sumystudents why didn’t we leave sumy!!! As if we had a choice and we didn’t go with it! #aveSumyStudents,” Jana Kalaji, another medical student tweeted.

    In the last few days, the students have been sending SOS messages and posting videos on social media, pleading for their urgent evacuation.

    The war in Ukraine has entered its 10th day without any indication of humanitarian corridors getting created for the passage of foreign nationals to safety.

    To evacuate its citizens from war-hit Ukraine, the Indian government has launched Operation Ganga under which thousands of stranded people, mostly students, have been evacuated from nations bordering Ukraine’s western frontiers.

    However, the evacuation from the eastern part remains a challenge.

  • Indian who was shot in Kyiv during Ukraine-Russia war returning to India on Monday: VK Singh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Indian student Harjot Singh, who was shot in Kyiv a few days back during the Ukraine-Russia war, is returning to Delhi on Monday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh said.

    On March 1, medical student Naveen SG from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Ukrainian city of Kharkiv when he ventured out to buy food for himself and fellow students.

    The minister informed on Twitter on Sunday: “Harjot Singh is the Indian who was shot during the war in Kyiv. His passport was also lost in the chaos.”

    “Harjot Singh, an Indian national who sustained bullet injuries in Kyiv and lost his passport, will return to India with us tomorrow,” tweets Union Minister Gen (Retd) VK Singh#OperationGanga #RussiaUkraineCrisis pic.twitter.com/uKxDjZgf05
    — ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2022
    He said Harjot Singh is reaching India with him on Monday.

    “Hope there is a speedy recovery with home food and care,” the minister stated.

    Singh – who is in Poland currently to facilitate students’ evacuation – had on March 4 told reporters, “Today, we heard reports that a student leaving Kyiv was shot. He was taken back to Kyiv. This will happen in a fighting.”

    The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive against it.

    Indian citizens stuck in Ukraine were being airlifted once they cross to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

    Eight flights with more than 1,500 Indians will operate from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries to India on Monday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated.

  • Go First operates its first evacuation flight from Budapest to Delhi; brings back 177 stranded Indians

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Private carrier Go First on Friday said it has operated first evacuation flight to New Delhi from Budapest in Hungary to bring back 177 Indian evacuees from war-hit Ukraine.

    The city-based airline also said it will operate two flights every till March 10 as part of the Operation Ganga mission.

    The first evacuation flight of Go First from Budapest departed at 5.58 pm (local time) on Thursday and arrived in New Delhi at 9.20 am (local time) on Friday with 177 passengers onboard, the airline said in a statement.

    For the evacuation, the flight had departed from New Delhi at 10:30 am (local time) on Thursday and landed at Budapest via Kuwait at 4 am (local time), it said.

    “This is a massive humanitarian crisis. Go First will support Indians with many more evacuation flights that are required to help Indians return to their loved ones.

    “The airline has always been at the forefront and stands committed to providing our services during a crisis situation for helping our fellow citizens when they need it the most,” said Go First CEO Kaushik Khona.

    The city-based airline said it will also endeavour to provide any additional flights as the Ministry of External Affairs may require.

    Ukraine’s airspace has been closed since February 24 and India is evacuating its citizens by special flights from the eastern European country’s western neighbours like Romania, Hungary and Poland.

  • PM Modi should mediate between Russia and Ukraine to make India ‘vishwaguru’: Yashwant Sinha

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: “India’s foreign policy has been individualized as Modi’s foreign policy, which may have a disastrous fallout for the country,” said former External Affairs Minister and now vice-president of the All India Trinamool Congress Yashwant Sinha amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. He also proposed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi act as a mediator between the two warring nations to end the military conflict.

    Speaking to The New Indian Express, Sinha said, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi boasts, more often than not, of making the country ‘vishwaguru’. Now, with the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, it’s the right time for the Prime Minister to step in as a mediator to end the ongoing bloody conflict and show the potential to become vishwaguru.”

    Reacting against India’s move to abstain from voting against Russia in the UNSC, Sinha said that such an ‘imprudent’ decision by the Modi-led government may isolate the country during challenging times in the future.

    ALSO READ: ‘Indians pushed out of trains, bunkers in Ukraine’: Karnataka student appeals for help

    “As a fallout of this, India may not get support of other countries if the Chinese challenge us,” Sinha remarked.

    “The UN has lost its élan. It is each one for itself. India should be prepared to meet the Chinese challenges because nobody will come to our help in case of hostilities,” he cautioned, speaking in the context of India’s decision not to vote against Russia in the UNSC recently.

    The bureaucrat-turned-politician further said, “A point to ponder is what would a much-maligned Nehru have done today in the Ukraine crisis?”

    Describing the US-dominated NATO as an ‘ineffective and paper tiger’ amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Sinha said, “After Afghanistan and now Ukraine, the US has been proven as not a dependable ally. India should take a lesson from these two situations and beware. India claims to be a friend of Russia, so it should immediately start mediating to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. What is the meaning of friendship if one friend cannot tell the other how wrong he is?” Sinha asked.

    Sinha added that democracies were made weak and ineffectual globally while autocracies have gone on the rampage.

    On being asked about a potential move to form a Third Front, Sinha categorically said, “Any Third Front would not be very helpful to the opposition.” Lashing out at the BJP, Sinha said the divide and rule policy of the central government is not only creating a division in society but also creating an atmosphere against the Constitution and social fabric of the country.

  • 198 people from Himachal Pradesh evacuated from Ukraine so far: CM Jai Ram Thakur

    Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said 53 students from the state are still stuck in Ukraine's Kharkiv.

  • Second Indian student dies in war-torn Ukraine after suffering from brain stroke

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Chandan Jindal, a fourth year MBBS student from Barnala in Punjab, died in Ukraine on Wednesday after suffering from an ischemic stroke. He is the second Indian student to die in the war-torn country.

    Sources close to the family said that Chandan, 22, who was studying at Vinnytsia National Pyrogov Memorial Medical University at Vinnytsia in Ukraine suffered from a stroke on February 2 as he had a clot in the brain. He was admitted to a hospital there and operated upon on February 4 after consent from his family.

    His father Shisan Kumar Jindal recently retired as chief pharmacist from Barnala civil hospital and he along with his brother Krishan Gopal reached Ukraine on February 7 to take care of Chandan. While his uncle returned home on Tuesday, his father is still at Vinnytsia in Ukraine. The family back home got the tragic news that he breathed his last earlier in the day. His father has written to the Union government to make arrangements for bringing back his body.

    ALSO READ: Ukraine crisis: Jyotiraditya Scindia says 6 flights to bring back over 1,200 Indians from Bucharest on Wednesday

    Chandan’s uncle Dheeraj Kumar Daddahoor said, “His father Shishan Jindal is still stuck in Ukraine and we are in touch with senior functionaries in the Union government including Meenakshi Lekhi, the Union minister of state for external affairs, and he is expected to come back shortly as the arrangements in this regard are being made. While it will take some time for the body of Chandan arrive here as paperwork is being done, the government is fully supporting the family,” he said.

    Dheeraj said, “Earlier, an air ambulance was arranged to airlift Chandan from Vinnytsia in Ukraine but the doctors there refused as he was critical and on the ventilator, so the plan to airlift him was dropped due to his medical condition.”

    Chandan had gone to Ukraine four years ago to do his MBBS degree and has an elder sister who is married.

    Meanwhile, Barnala Deputy Commissioner Kumar Saurav Raj said, “We have written to the higher authorities to take up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs to make quick arrangements to bring back the body of Chandan and to evacuatehis father.”