New Delhi: India has reportedly asked Moscow for support in allowing Indian citizens stranded in eastern Ukraine to cross over into Russian territory.India has a “couple of thousands” citizens in the eastern cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and around Odessa, which is at the heart of heavy fighting between Russian military forces and Ukrainian resistance. Unlike those in the Western cities, they cannot move out freely from their shelters, with curfews imposed in most places due to the fighting.On Sunday, foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had separate meetings with the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors. “(I) conveyed to them our deep concern about the security and safety of Indian citizens, particularly students based in Ukraine. I have shared the location where Indian citizens and students are concentrated to ensure their protection,” he said at a media briefing on Sunday evening.While the Indian citizens in western Ukraine could move relatively freely to the different border points, this option was not available to those in the eastern part of the country.The latest advisory from the Indian embassy on February 27 conveyed that Indian nationals in Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv were “not advised to venture towards railway stations until curfew was lifted and considerable civilian movement is renewed”. This was a follow-up to an earlier advisory that had advised citizens in “active conflict zone” to use nearby railway stations and move towards the western region.Foreign secretary Shringla stated that a team from the Indian embassy in Russia, led by a first secretary-rank officer, has moved towards the Ukrainian border to “map evacuation plans”, including accommodation and food arrangements.However, those will only be used once the fighting dies down and civilians can move out. He noted that eastern Ukraine was still a “conflict zone”.The new Russian ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, tweeted that he had a “cordial” meeting with the foreign secretary, where they discussed “the ways to ensure the safety of Indian students in #Ukraine”. “Expressed our full support to this end,” he posted.Upon my arrival had a cordial initial meeting with FS @harshvshringla this afternoon. Discussed topical bilateral and international issues and the ways to ensure safety of Indian students in #Ukraine. Expressed our full support to this end.— Denis Alipov 🇷🇺 (@AmbRus_India) February 27, 2022Earlier, Shringla had said that both the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors had taken “note of our concerns and assured that they are very cognisant of the safety and security of Indian citizens in a conflict zone”.While the foreign secretary did not explicitly state it during the press briefing, sources confirmed that India had asked for support from Russia for assistance in helping Indian nationals stuck in eastern Ukraine to cross the border into Russian territory. This will be a politically sensitive issue for India at this stage of the conflict, which will be handled in a low-key manner.Shringla also stated that an Indian embassy team would also be reaching the Moldovan-Ukrainian border on Monday morning to look at the possibility of evacuating nationals who are stranded around Odessa. On Sunday, Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar had a phone call with his Moldovan counterpart.In answer to a question on whether India will directly ‘condemn’ the Russian attack on Ukraine, Shringla only reiterated that India’s stance has been consistent through the conflict.“In the UN Security Council, we have conveyed deep regret at the evolving situation. We have also definitely pointed out that the loss of human lives is not acceptable. But at the same time, we have said that diplomacy and dialogue are the only option. Clearly, from that perspective, I think our position has been consistent when it comes to dealing with the current situation at hand,” he said.India has, so far, never directly mentioned Russia or referred to its military attack in public statements made at last four meetings of the UN Security Council. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did express “deep anguish” at loss of lives to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but again did not explicitly refer to Russian actions. India had abstained on the US-backed draft resolution that called on Russia to reverse its military invasion and deplored it as a violation of the UN charter.To a question about reports of assaults on Indian students by Ukrainian guards, Shringla stated that he had a “specific conversation” with Ukraine’s envoy in India. He pointed out that while the Ukrainian authorities have been helpful, they have “different priorities” right now.“Their deputy chief of mission has constantly been speaking with border officials and others. They have been very, very helpful. I did tell them I expect that they will facilitate the hassle-free evacuation in every way. But it is a conflict zone. There are other priorities too.”India had, so far, made efforts to evacuate its 15,000 strong community in Ukraine through land routes to border points in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Poland. So far, around 2,000 Indians have crossed over at border points of Hungary and Romania.However, thousands of Indians have been stuck at the Polish border point of Shehyni-Medyka for more than a day. “The exit point to Poland is generally clogged due to lakhs of Ukrainian and foreign nationals nations trying to leave from there… We have tried to calibrate plans based on experience on the ground, certain border crossings are more effective, some problematic,” he said.On Sunday night, the Indian embassy in Poland tweeted that it is arranging buses to pick up Indian nationals at Shehyni on the Ukrainian side of the border, to take them to other checkpoints on the Polish border.Revised advisory for Indian citizens in Ukraine desiring to be evacuated via Poland.@MEAIndia @opganga @IndiainUkraine pic.twitter.com/BcUsZa8TPn— India in Poland and Lithuania (@IndiainPoland) February 27, 2022