The Kremlin alleged on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces have been taking Indian students “hostage,” using them as “human shields,” and preventing their evacuation to Russia. Therefore, following the death of an Indian student in Kharkiv, Moscow said that that blame for the danger Indian nationals find themselves in “lies entirely with the Kyiv authorities.”
These new claims were reiterated during a telephonic conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi yesterday. Russian state-owned news outlet TASS reported that Putin stressed that “every necessary instruction has been issued, and the Russian service members are doing their utmost to ensure the safe evacuation of Indian nationals from the zone of hostilities and their return home.” The pair agreed to “maintain close interaction” to ensure the safety of the students.
The press release put out by the Kremlin added that Russia is actively seeking to facilitate an “urgent evacuation” of Indian students in Kharkiv “via a humanitarian corridor by the shortest route to Russia.”
PM @narendramodi spoke on phone today with Russian President Vladimir Putin @KremlinRussia_E.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 2, 2022
Press Release ➡️ https://t.co/ZeE8BgI0ft
Hours before Modi and Putin spoke, the spokesperson for the Russian Defence Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, claimed that Ukraine had ‘forcibly’ detained Indian students in Kharkiv. He added that the students have attempted to leave Ukrainian territory for Belgorod but have been “held hostage” and told to leave the country via the Ukraine-Poland border in order to deliberately put them in harm’s way. To this end, Konashenkov informed that the Russian armed forces stand ready to evacuate Indian citizens and “send them home from Russia on its own military transport planes or on Indian aircraft.”
Responding to these allegations, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese students were unable to evacuate from Kharkiv and Sumy due to “indiscriminate shelling and barbaric missile strikes” by Russian forces on residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Kyiv thus warned the three countries that students in Kharkiv and Sumy “have become hostages of the Russian armed aggression,” and urged the governments to request Moscow to open “a humanitarian corridor to other Ukrainian cities.”
We urgently call on the governments of India, Pakistan, China and other counties whose students have become hostages of the Russian armed aggression in Kharkiv and Sumy, to demand from Moscow that it allows the opening of a humanitarian corridor to other Ukrainian cities.
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) March 2, 2022
Meanwhile, on the same day, India abstained from a vote during an emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that called on Russia to “immediately, completely, and unconditionally” withdraw its troops from Ukraine. The resolution secured its required two-thirds majority, and was passed with 141 countries, including Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives, voting in favour and five voting against.
However, 34 countries—including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, and India—abstained from the vote. While explaining the decision, the Indian Permanent Representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti, condemned the ongoing hostilities and supported the “call for an immediate ceasefire.” However, he added that India remains committed to “dialogue and diplomacy” and hoped for the success of the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.
In fact, India abstained from a similar vote in the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) last week, reiterating its support for dialogue and diplomacy. According to government officials cited by The Hindu, India’s decision to abstain from voting allowed it to retain the option of “reaching out to relevant sides in an effort to bridge the gap and find the middle ground with an aim to foster dialogue and diplomacy.”
India abstained on the vote today in the UN General Assembly emergency special session resolution on #Ukraine.
— PR/Amb T S Tirumurti (@ambtstirumurti) March 2, 2022
Our Statement on Explanation of Vote ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/5Y0KF1DGUu
India has hinted at displeasure with Russia’s actions and has on three separate occasions emphasised on the need to respect the “territorial integrity and sovereignty” of all countries. However, it continues to refrain from making any direct references to its longtime ally, which it relies on for 60-70% of its military equipment.