Russia alleged Indian students kept as ‘hostage’ by Ukraine forces in Kharkiv
Russian alleged that Ukrainian forces kept Indians as captive in Kharkiv, not allowing Indian students to leave the city. Russian allegation came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting him for safe passage of stranded Indian students in Kharkiv, the second largest Ukrainian city.
Kharkiv: Russian Defence Ministry has alleged that Ukrainian forces have kept a large group of Indian students as ‘hostages’ in Kharkiv and are not allowed to leave the city.
Russian allegation came after India has issued a fresh advisory to its students stranded in Kharkiv since one week. Russia has alerted Indian authorities that it will carry out aggressive attacks on Kharkiv asked India to send its citizens to a safer zone.
Now Russia has alleged that Ukraine forces have kept captive of Indians at Kharkiv. "According to our information, Ukrainian authorities are forcibly keeping a large group of Indian students in Kharkiv who wish to leave Ukrainian territory and go to Belgorod," a Russian military spokesperson said at a briefing.
"In fact, they are being held as hostages... Russian armed forces are ready to take all necessary measures for the safe evacuation of the Indian citizens. And send them home from the Russian territory with its own military transport planes or Indian planes, as the Indian side proposed to do," he added, NDTV reports.
The allegations came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, requested for safe passage of thousands of Indians who were stranded in Kharkiv. India has reportedly sought time to evacuate Indians from Kharkiv, Russia has agreed for the same.
Kharkiv is virtually under Russian control and the girl students have already been sent on their way to Ukraine's western border by train, it takes 20 hours journey from Kharkiv.
Indian students have alleged that Ukraine forces have kicked them, intimidated and not being let on trains leaving the city, prompting many to start walking towards one of the three locations specified by the Indian government between 11 and 16 km away.
Located in the eastern part of the city close to the Russian border, Kharkiv has been facing intense attacks since the invasion started and they have intensified over the past two days. At least two Indian students have died since the conflict began - one in Russian shelling and another in a hospital while being treated for an illness.
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