Leave Kharkiv on foot if no vehicles available: Embassy to stranded Indians in Ukraine

The advisory comes as Russian forces continue to launch missile strikes in Ukraine's second-largest city due to which an Indian medical student died on Tuesday.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine issued a fresh advisory on Wednesday, asking all of its stranded citizens to immediately leave Kharkiv and move to Pesochin, Babaye and Bezlyudovka by 6pm local time.

An area near the regional administration building, which city officials said was hit by a missile attack, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (REUTERS)

The advisory comes as Russian forces continue to strike Ukraine's second-largest city with missiles. A day ago, a 21-year-old Indian medical student, Naveen Shekharappa Gyandagoudar, died in shelling by Russian forces.

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The embassy asked the students to leave Kharkiv for their “safety and security” and reach the settlements by the given time under all circumstances.

An hour later, the embassy issued another advisory reiterating its call for stranded Indian students to immediately leave Kharkiv and move to the mentioned settlements. It said those who cannot find buses or other vehicles to move to the above locations, can walk on foot to leave the conflict-torn region amid heavy firing.

“Proceed immediately, under all circumstances,” the second advisory read.

Addressing a press conference, ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the advisories were issued after the Indian embassy received relevant information from Russia.

“We would urge all our nationals to leave Kharkiv immediately to safe zones or further westwards using any means available, including on foot, and keeping safety in mind,” he added.

The situation in Kharkiv worsened rapidly on Wednesday after the Russian troops continued their airstrikes, with mayor Igor Terekhov stating they were targetting residential zones and regional administration buildings.

A regional official told Reuters at least 21 people lost their lives and 112 were injured in shelling in the Ukrainian city in the last 24 hours.

Even as Ukrainian resistance has stalled Russians' efforts to take over Kyiv and Kharkiv, an Interfax report citing the Russian foreign ministry said that it has taken control of the port city of Kherson.

Russia has agreed to hold the second round of ceasefire talks with Ukraine, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demanded that bombing be first stopped in his country.