KYIV: When the war erupted in February 2022, it caught the Indian community in Ukraine completely off guard. While the world watched the large-scale evacuation of Indian medical students from Ukraine, the situation was far more complex for long-term Indian residents. Many had spent years building their businesses and forging deep connections in the country, making it impossible to simply leave.
Nagender Parashar, who runs a prosthetics manufacturing business, recalls the tough decisions he had to make. “I had to relocate my factory from Kyiv to Marshyntsy in Chernivtsi Oblast near the Romanian border. My workers and their families relied on me, so abandoning them wasn’t an option,” he explains. His business has since become a lifeline for hundreds of Ukrainian amputees affected by the war. “Gradually, I moved my staff to Marshyntsy and continued our work.”
Ram Dange, another long-term Indian resident, describes the hardships faced by the Indian community in Kyiv. “Before 2022, there were about 2,500 long-term Indian residents in Ukraine. Many of us have families here. The war forced us to relocate our loved ones to safer places, but we had to stay behind to protect our businesses. Now, we are eagerly anticipating PM Modi’s visit and have collectively appealed to him. We fully endorse his stance against the use of force in resolving disputes and hope he can mediate a resolution to this brutal conflict.”
Modi’s visit marks the first time a sitting Indian PM has visited independent Ukraine. Mridula Ghosh, an international relations professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, perceives a potential shift in India’s stance. “Some view this visit as an attempt to balance relations following Modi’s recent visit to Russia, during which Ukraine was bombarded by missiles. However, it could also signal a gradual distancing from Russia’s influence. Modi’s presence here could inaugurate a new chapter in India-Ukraine relations, with high-level political engagement.”
Parashar believes, “From our perspective, this visit will help restore our dignity. Since the war began, we have faced criticism over India’s neutral stance on the conflict. Modi’s meeting with President Zelensky could counter that perception among Ukrainians and improve our situation.”
Dange adds, “Do we want to be aligned with autocracies like Russia and China, or democracies like Ukraine? Moreover, Ukraine could serve as India’s gateway to the EU for business. This is why PM Modi’s efforts to resolve the war would be immensely beneficial for us.”
