Indian Embassy in Ukraine advises stranded students, nationals to leave Kyiv urgently today

NEW DELHI: The Embassy of India has advised Indian nationals including students stranded in Ukraine to leave Kyiv urgently today.

“Advisory to Indians in Kyiv. All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available,” the Indian Embassy tweeted.

Advisory to Indians in Kyiv

All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available.

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) March 1, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive against that country, sources said on Tuesday. The IAF is likely to deploy several C-17 aircraft as part of Operation Ganga from Tuesday, they said, as per PTI report.

Also Read | Ukrainian guards not allowing us to board trains, beating up people: Indian student from Kyiv station

Meanwhile, several Indian students stuck in eastern parts of Ukraine, which is largely affected by the Russian military offensive, are facing a grim situation as it is difficult for them to travel by road to reach the western borders and move out of the war-hit country, one of the students returned to India told PTI.

A Ukrainian envoy Igor Polikha said on Monday that Ukraine is extending all possible help in the evacuation of the Indians stranded in the country notwithstanding the "very difficult" ground situation, but an assurance on their safety can only be given by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He rejected reports of discrimination against Indians attempting to leave the country through various border crossings.

Also Read | High MBBS fees forced student to choose Ukraine, reached campus minutes before war began

The envoy said he himself reached out to some of the Ukrainian border-guarding commanders, requesting them to assist the Indians who are trying to exit the country through land borders.

On February 15, India had advised its citizens in Ukraine to temporarily leave that country amid escalating tension between Moscow and the NATO countries over Russia's increasing military build-up close to the Ukrainian border. In an advisory, the Indian embassy in Kyiv asked Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.