Ukraine: India to reopen embassy in Kyiv from May 17
What's the story
India has announced that its consulate in Ukraine will reopen on Tuesday in the country's capital of Kyiv, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. Since mid-March, after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the embassy has been temporarily operating from Warsaw, Poland. The development came as the Russia-Ukraine war entered its 80th day on Saturday with no sign of a ceasefire.
Context
Why does this story matter?
With several Indian students left stranded in various Ukraine cities due to the sudden Russian invasion, the embassy's role came to the fore. The embassy had coordinated with various neighboring counties in providing a safe passage to students on their way back to India. While India has kept ties with Russia intact, the reopening of the embassy will help it cement relations with Ukraine.
Reason
Several Western embassies have reopened, leaders visited Kyiv
India's decision to reopen the embassy in Kyiv coincided with the reopening of several Western embassies in Kyiv. Several world leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have recently visited the Ukrainian capital. On March 13, India decided to temporarily relocate the embassy to Warsaw, Poland. It was done in light of the war-torn country's rapidly deteriorating security situation, including Russia's military offensive around Kyiv.
Information
India shifted embassy after conclusion of 'Operation Ganga'
India moved its embassy out of Kyiv after rescuing over 20,000 of its citizens from Ukraine and bringing them back to their home country as part of the "Operation Ganga" evacuation mission, which began on February 26, two days after the Russia-Ukraine war began.
War
Ukraine announces launch of war crimes tribunal
Meanwhile, Ukraine has announced the launch of its first war crimes tribunal, bringing Russian military personnel to trial for killing civilians amid war. England and the Netherlands have dispatched war crimes researchers to Ukraine to aid local and International Criminal Court teams investigating possible human rights atrocities, including in the Kyiv neighborhood of Bucha, where over 20 bodies and mass graves were discovered earlier.