PM Modi talks to Putin about Kharkiv; Russia claims students held hostage by Ukrainians

While Putin stressed that Russia was working to ensure evacuation of students through the shortest route to Russia, the Russian side also claimed that the students had been taken hostage by Ukraine forces who were using them as human shields and preventing them from travelling to Belgorod in Russia. The Russian defence ministry went on to say that Russian forces were ready to send students home from Russian territory in their own military transport planes.

from Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/modi-talks-to-putin-about-kharkiv-russia-claims-students-held-hostage-by-ukrainians/articleshow/89955381.cms>ab