In what came as an unprecedented development on Wednesday, Russia paused its assault on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. This is the second-largest city of Ukraine and was the Eastern European nation’s capital before Kyiv. Kharkiv lies close to the border with Russia and establishing control over the city is a primary objective of President Vladimir Putin. The fall of cities across Ukraine will ultimately pave the way for Kyiv to either surrender to Moscow or fall to Russian forces. Nonetheless, in a kinetic, dynamic and cent per cent conventional war such as the one which is playing out in Ukraine, every minute counts.
And it counts more so for the Russian forces – which are the ones launching an offensive against Ukraine, contrary to Kyiv and its armed forces, who are merely defending the nation. For Russia, falling behind schedule can have many untoward consequences. Yet, Moscow knows it needs to take care of its global relationships even in wartime.
Russia Pauses Kharkiv Onslaught for India
The Russians apparently agreed to a six-hour window for allowing safe passage to all Indians, especially students out of Kharkiv before an all-out assault was scheduled to begin on the night of Wednesday-Thursday.
According to defence analyst Nitin Gokhale who first broke the news, the Russian safe passage offer came after India’s urgent request to Moscow. According to Gokhale, “the Russians do not want to delay the capture of Kharkiv beyond a point.”
The Russian safe passage offer came after India’s urgent request. The Russians do not want to delay the capture of Kharkiv beyond a point. So only a six-hour time slot was agreed upon. Tough for all Indians to evacuate in time it appears. 🤞
— Nitin A. Gokhale (@nitingokhale) March 2, 2022
The pause to the onslaught on Kharkiv allowed many Indians to escape Kharkiv just in time. An urgent advisory issued by the Indian embassy in Ukraine asked Indian nationals to leave Kharkiv immediately, and before 1800 hours (Ukrainian time) without fail. In another advisory, India asked its nationals to proceed to safer locations neighbouring Kyiv on foot, if other modes of transportation were not available.
URGENT ADVISORY TO ALL INDIAN NATIONALS IN KHARKIV.
FOR THEIR SAFETY AND SECURITY THEY MUST LEAVE KHARKIV IMMEDIATELY.
PROCEED TO PESOCHIN, BABAYE AND BEZLYUDOVKA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES THEY MUST REACH THESE SETTLEMENTS *BY 1800 HRS (UKRAINIAN TIME) TODAY*.— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) March 2, 2022
Importantly, this six-hour window of relief for Kharkiv was agreed upon only for the safety of Indians. New Delhi shared the location of its nationals spread all over Kharkiv, and Moscow desisted from targeting these areas until sundown. This is a significant respite that no other country has been able to secure for its citizens who remain stranded in Ukraine.
Russia Creates Safe Corridors for Indian Students and Nationals
Not only did Russia pause its offensive on Kharkiv, but it has also worked to create corridors for evacuation of Indians stranded near its border in eastern Ukraine. Russian ambassador-designate to India, Denis Alipov said, “We are working intensely on creating corridors for securing safe passage for Indian nationals stuck in Kharkiv, Sumy and areas in the northeast of Ukraine so that they can travel and be taken safely to Russian territories. We are in touch with Indian authorities too.”
The situation in Ukraine is such that Indian nationals feel safer around Russian forces than they do while interacting with Ukrainian officials – who are openly discriminating against Indians based on race and their skin colour.
Read more: India’s bold statement to the US amidst the Ukraine-Russia war
Such decisions have been taken at the highest levels of leadership in Moscow. Once again, Russia has proven how it is a true friend of India, which will prioritise the safety of Indian nationals in conflict zones. Russia had helped India stand up to China in 2020 by rushing weapons to our country. The delivery of S-400 air defence systems to India, meanwhile, began only recently.
Russia ensures delivery of weapons to India remain unaffected
At the time when western countries are trying to hammer Moscow with sanctions after sanctions, it has assured India that these sanctions can’t impact defence trade between two countries. Russia has said that it has already taken some preventive measures to assure the supply of arms such as S-400 to India.
Denis Alipov, the Russian ambassador said, “as regards the bilateral trade in defence areas, we have the means of transactions independent of the western financial mechanisms. There are ways of continuing business and we don’t have any worries about that. It is a question of adjusting to the current situation.”
India is an indispensable market for Russia. It is a strategic defence and economic partner that Moscow cannot lose. Therefore, Russia is going out of its way to prove its loyalty to India in these trying times.