New Delhi: As Russia stepped up military attacks in Ukraine today, India voiced deep concern over the escalation of the conflict and issued an advisory to its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.
India again pitched for immediate cessation of hostilities and reiterated its readiness to support all efforts aimed at de-escalation.
Russia escalated the 8-month-old conflict today by carrying out missile attacks against Ukraine’s energy, communication and military infrastructure.
Today’s pounding of Kyiv and other areas, which lasted for several hours, was in retaliation to a bomb attack on a bridge which connects Russia with its annexed territory of Crimea two days back.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired dozens of missiles at Ukraine, targeting civilian areas and energy facilities in at least 10 cities.
General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said Russia launched 75 missiles at Ukrainian targets but 41 of those were intercepted by the Ukrainian air defence system.
According to media reports, at least 8 civilians were killed and 24 injured in just one of the several missile attacks on Kyiv today.
“India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a statement here.
“We reiterate that escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest. We urge immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue,” he said, adding India stands ready to support all such efforts aimed at de-escalation.
The spokesman said India has consistently maintained since the beginning of the conflict that the global order is anchored in the principles of the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.
Meanwhile, Indian Embassy in Kyiv issued an advisory, saying, “In view of the current escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.”
It said the Indians must strictly follow the safety and security guidelines issued by the Ukrainian government and local authorities.
“The Indian nationals are requested to keep the Embassy informed about the state of their presence in Ukraine to enable the Embassy to reach out to them, where required,” advisory added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, while treating the attack on Kerch bridge as a “terrorist” act by Ukraine aimed at “destruction of critical civil infrastructure of Russia”, has threatened a strong response.
“If acts of terrorism continue against Russia, we will respond in a very harsh manner. The responses will be of the same scale as the threats to Russia. Nobody should have any doubts about this,” Putin said at a security council meeting.
