India to relocate embassy to Poland temporarily

India has decided to temporarily relocate its embassy in Ukraine to Poland in view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the wartorn country including the Russian military offensive in its western region.

The decision comes as Russian troops are closing in on key Ukrainian cities and towns including the capital Kyiv. “In view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ukraine, including attacks in the western parts of the country, it has been decided that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine will be temporarily relocated to Poland," the Ministry of External Affairs said. “The situation will be reassessed in the light of further developments,” it said in a brief statement.

A significant number of officials in the Indian embassy in Kyiv was already working from its camp office in Lviv for the last few days. The camp office of the embassy was set up in Lviv as part of efforts to evacuate Indian citizens from Ukraine through land border crossings.

Lviv is a city in western Ukraine 70 km from the border with Poland.

On Sunday, PM Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security that reviewed India’s security preparedness, and the prevailing global scenario in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

A statement said Modi was briefed on the developments in Ukraine, including the details of Operation Ganga to evacuate Indian nationals, along with citizens of India’s neighbouring countries, from Ukraine.

Modi directed that all possible efforts should be made to bring back the mortal remains of Naveen Shekharappa, who died in Kharkiv. Shekharappa, an Indian student studying in Ukraine, was killed in shelling.

Modi reviewed India’s security preparedness. Sources said he stressed on integrating latest technology in the security apparatus and reiterated every effort must be made to make India self-reliant in the defence sector so it strengthens our security and adds to the economy.