New Delhi is sending four senior Ministers to Ukraine's neighbouring countries to help evacuate not only Indians but also foreign nationals stranded in war-torn Ukraine, in a move that could benefit distressed Bangladeshis and Pakistanis too.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Monday night, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said. Already 8,000 Indian nationals, mostly students, have been evacuated from Ukraine.

"Evacuation efforts on… situation on ground continues to be complex and fluid, some of them quite concerning, but we’ve been able to accelerate our evacuation process. About 8,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since we issued advisories, not since the conflict began," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told the media.

In a related statement, the Foreign Ministry said, "The prime minister pointed out that the visit of four senior ministers as his Special Envoys to various nations will energise the evacuation efforts. It is reflective of the priority the government attaches to this matter."

"Guided by India's motto of the world being one family, the prime minister also stated that India will help people from neighbouring countries and developing countries who are stranded in Ukraine and may seek assistance."

Last week, Prime Minister Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately halt military action against Ukraine, underscoring the need for a diplomatic solution to the standoff. 

This was after Ukraine's envoy in Delhi sought Modi's intervention in ending the Russian offensive. "Modi ji is one of the most powerful, respected world leaders. You have a privileged, strategic relation with Russia. If Modiji speaks to Putin we are hopeful he'll respond," Ukraine's Ambassador Igor Polikha told the local media on Thursday.

An estimated 15,000 Indians are said to be currently in Ukraine.