NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in March said that despite challenges posed by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the government ensured that about 22,500 citizens have returned home safely from the war-torn country.

In a statement in the Rajya Sabha, he said that a large number of students continue to stay in Ukraine, adding that 18,000 citizens were caught in the conflict. Referring to the steps taken by the government to evacuate Indian nationals including students, he further said that the MEA control room was ramped up to 100 personnel and strategies were chalked out to bring back citizens via neighbouring countries of Ukraine. He also said that the MEA control room received over 13,000 calls and 9,000 emails while Russian speaking officials were sent to Ukraine to assist the evacuations.

“Members of the House should appreciate the work of diplomats who went beyond the call of duty to facilitate students and citizens. Under Operation Ganga, 90 flights were operated including 20 Air Force flights. The 70 flights were operated by the private airlines like Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, IndGo and others,” Jaishankar said.

The Indian Air Force rose to the occasion and operated 20 flights under Operation Ganga, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself spoke to President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to seek support for Indian nationals, the External Affairs Minister said. “PM Modi, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla and myself, were in touch with counterparts in Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary,” he said.