Safe passage for Indians: Russian army has not issued any advisory

Netizens claim that the Russian army has issued a statement on the safety of Indians in Ukraine.

They claim that the Russian Army would provide a safe passage to Indian nationals in Ukraine if they display the Indian flag on their homes and vehicles. "If there are Indians in the area we are attacking, they should fly the Indian tricolor flag over their houses. We will move them to a safer place," the claim said.

FACT CHECK:

NewsMeter could not find any news report or official statements on any platform that could confirm the claim. If the Russian Army had made such a statement, media outlets would have reported on it. But none of the leading media outlets have published such a report.

In the advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Ukraine on 25 February 2022, it was stated that Indian nationals should print out the Indian flag while traveling and affix it on vehicles and buses for facilitation through the border. But nowhere does it mention putting the flag on houses.

Union Minister Kishan Reddy told ANI, "We have asked students traveling on bikes, cars, and buses to display the Indian flag on vehicles. We sent flags via social media to people who did not take pictures of the flags. Russia has promised no action against Indian students. We asked the Indians to reach the border of Ukraine with Indian flags

However, it should be noted that while it is true that the Indian government has advised its nationals to carry the flag while moving outside, no such directives have come from the Russian defense minister. No such communication has yet been conveyed by the Russian government.

Therefore, it is clear that the Indian Government has asked its nationals to carry the national flag. No such statement has been made by the Russian defense minister.