India maintained a studied silence on the developing Ukraine situation on Saturday even as western powers called for evacuation of their citizens from various locations in the country. The Hindu has, however, learned that the Embassy of India in Kyiv has been contacting Indian citizens based in Ukraine and collecting information those who may require evacuation in case a conflict flares up between Russia and Ukraine.
“Three weeks back, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv began to contact us on email and sent us a form to be filled up. The form contains details like our location in Ukraine, and other relevant information which may be used in case a quick mobilisation of Indian citizens in Ukraine is required,” said Shivam Dubey who is studying medicine in Ternopil. Ternopil, located in western Ukraine, is far from the eastern border region of Donbas where largescale mobilisation of military personnel and heavy weapons has taken place on the Russian side. Western officials have been maintaining that Russia has encircled Ukraine both from the east, north and the Black Sea coast. Russia and Belarus have been conducting a military exercise in the north of Ukraine.
