Russia-Ukraine Crisis Live Updates: 'No end to bombing', say stranded Indian students in Kyiv

Maharashtra Minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Sunday said some 1,200 students from the state are stranded in Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia, of which just 300 have been able to contact their parents. In a press release issued here, Wadettiwar, MLA from Bramhapuri here and minister of Relief and Rehabilitation, said the state government will take all efforts to get them back safely.

Indian students had to walk for about 5-8 kilometers to reach the Romanian border from battle-scarred Ukraine, a Tamil Nadu student who arrived from the eastern European nation said here on Sunday. Notably, the Indian authorities facilitated quick evacuation to Romania and this helped avoid the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine, students said here on arrival. The student said that about 5,000 students hailing from Tamil Nadu are in Ukraine for studies and all efforts were being made to bring them all back home. READ MORE.

The Government of India has launched 'multi-pronged' Operation Ganga to evacuate our citizens stranded in Ukraine. This evacuation process will be at government cost: Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shirngla

Those who judge that the situation is not conducive for travel, or are unable to leave due to any reason, may wait until further developments: Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine in an advisory to Indian nationals

Belgium is joining a growing list of countries closing their airspace to Russian airlines as the West ramps up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering an invasion of Ukraine. Belgian Prime Minster Alexander De Croo tweeted Sunday that the country “has decided to close its airspace to all Russian airlines.”

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Sunday announced that the territorial government would bear the travel expenses of the students returning to the Union Territory from war-torn Ukraine, where they are stranded now.

Indian citizens are being evacuated from Ukraine through Romania and Hungary. We are continuously exploring and working to open up more borders with the neighbouring countries for our citizens: Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine in an advisory to Indian nationals.

Important Advisory to all Indian Nationals/Students in Ukraine as on 27 February 2022.@MEAIndia @PIB_India @DDNewslive @DDNational @IndiainUkraine pic.twitter.com/0q87NPJrG6

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 27, 2022

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "All the Indians stranded in Ukraine will be brought back to the country at the government's expense. We have decided to increase the number of flights to neighbouring countries of Ukraine with their permission for this purpose."

Tears of joy, happy faces and smiles marked the arrival of the first batch of 56 students to their home state Gujarat from Ukraine on Sunday, as anxious parents welcomed them upon arrival from Mumbai after an overnight journey. The students also thanked the Indian authorities for helping them return home safely from war-hit Ukraine. Two special buses arranged by the Gujarat government brought these students from Mumbai, where they had arrived on Saturday

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said, "In a discussion with S Jaishankar ji thanked him personally and the MEA for leading efforts to repatriate Indians stranded in Ukraine. His assurance that the GoI will ensure intervention in all the issues that we brought to his attention, is deeply appreciated."

In a discussion with @DrSJaishankar ji thanked him personally and the MEA for leading efforts to repatriate Indians stranded in Ukraine. His assurance that the GoI will ensure intervention in all the issues that we brought to his attention, is deeply appreciated.

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) February 27, 2022

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren writes to Home Minister Amit Shah and informs him about the list of people from the state - along with their details- who are stuck in Ukraine; requests him to instruct concerned officials of Govt of India to take steps for their safe return.

In this hour of crisis in Ukraine, our thoughts are with our brothers & sisters. I have written to @AmitShah’ji @HMOIndia requesting immediate necessary steps to ensure the safe return of all people of Jharkhand stranded in Ukraine. We are committed to ensure safe return of all. pic.twitter.com/u8C04zzyhm

— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) February 27, 2022

"Another batch of students from Delhi is expected to arrive tomorrow. The students are happy to be back. We will bring each and every Indian back safely," Rajendra Trivedi, Gujarat Revenue Minister said, as per ANI report.

The United Nations' refugee agency says the latest count of Ukrainians arriving in neighbouring countries now exceeds 200,000. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said on Twitter that the numbers of those fleeing invading Russian troops are constantly changing and another update would be issued later Sunday. The agency's estimate on Saturday was that at least 150,000 have fled Ukraine into Poland and other countries including Hungary and Romania.

Indians stranded in Ukrain arrive at Delhi airport 

Six students from Assam stranded in war-torn Ukraine have been evacuated along with other Indians so far and they have reached New Delhi and Mumbai on separate flights, the state administration said on Sunday. The Assam government said that it was in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safe evacuation of all people from the state who are stuck in the eastern European nation.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel today said, "The students stranded in Kharkiv and Kyiv are facing a lot of difficulties. I request the Government of India to bring these students near the border so that they are evacuated safely. Also, the number of evacuation planes should be increased." He also informed that "Air India has increased the fare of tickets from Rs 24,000- Rs 25,000 to Rs 60,000- Rs 80,000, had it been the same, many more students would have possibly come back on time." ANI reported.

The Karnataka government said around 30 students hailing from the state have been safely evacuated from war-torn Ukraine. According to the data available with the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), based on the submissions it has received so far, about 397 people were stranded in Ukraine with 129 among them from Bengaluru.

About 16,000 Indians, mostly students, are stranded in Ukraine as Russia’s invasion of the east European country entered its second day on Friday. Of the students, many studying medicine in Kharkiv and Kyiv, about 2,500 are from Gujarat and 2,320 from Kerala. READ MORE.

In other news, Chancellor of Bareilly International University Keshav Kumar Agarwal was shot at by two bike-borne men in Baradari area, police said on Sunday. Agarwal, a renowned surgeon, was returning from a temple on Saturday night when the two men opened fire at him near Ekta crossing, they said. The bullet hit his jaw. He is undergoing treatment, the police said. Senior superintendent of police Rohit Singh Sajwan said attempts are on to nab those involved in the attack, PTI reported.

In constant efforts to bring back Indian students trapped in Ukraine as Russia announces attack, Indian state governments have set up control rooms, helplines and are ensuring every kind of help for their students and residents. READ MORE.

Ukraine Railways is additionally organising emergency trains at no cost, first come basis from Kyiv. Schedule can be found at train stations. Indian diaspora is advised to move away from conflict zones to the Western region subject to security situation and the extant regulations.

Ukraine Railways is additionally organising emergency trains at no cost, first come basis from Kyiv. Schedule can be found at train stations.
??n diaspora is advised to move away from conflict zones to the Western region subject to security situation and the extant regulations.

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 27, 2022

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is willing to hold talks with Russia - but not in neighbouring Belarus as it's being used as a launchpad for invasion. "Warsaw, Bratislava, Budapest, Istanbul, Baku. We proposed all of them," he said in an online address: AFP News Agency.

Air India's two evacuation flights, one from Romanian capital Bucharest and another from Hungarian capital Budapest, carrying 490 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport on Sunday morning, government officials said. India on Saturday began the evacuation of its stranded citizens amid the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, with the first evacuation flight,

Several Indian students in Ukraine trudged 35km in freezing temperature to reach the border with Poland hoping for an escape from the ravaging war, but are now stuck there with little or no food and shelter. Sleeping in parks in temperature below minus 4 degrees, their food stocks dwindling and their phone batteries dying, the students who reached the border point on Saturday pleaded for help to put an end to their ordeal and the uncertainty over their evacuation.

Russia-Ukraine Crisis 

Sanjib Nath, a resident of Dharmanagar in North Tripura, is tensely waiting for the return of his 21-year-old son Dwaipayan, a medical student in a Kiev-based institution. He had gone to Kiev on December 11 last year to pursue medical studies. "Everything was fine until the Russian invasion. He had a scheduled flight to Delhi on February 26 but it got cancelled due to heavy bombing and shelling around Kiev," Nath said. He said that his son and some of his friends from Tripura wanted to escape to Poland but could not and are now sheltered in a bunker. READ MORE.

Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority issues details of officers at the facilitation centre set up by the State Government at Delhi's IGI Airport to coordinate and support stranded students of Karnataka arriving here from Ukraine. 

Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority issues details of officers at the facilitation centre set up by the State Government at Delhi's IGI Airport to coordinate and support stranded students of Karnataka arriving here from Ukraine.#RussiaUkraineConflict pic.twitter.com/rfIjmHdyM9

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2022

Akhangsha Bhowmik, a fourth-year medical student in Ukraine's V N Karazin Kharkiv National University, is anxiously waiting to safely return home in Tripura capital Agartala. She is among an estimated 50 medical students from the northeastern state who have been stranded in Ukraine after the Russian invasion. "For the last three days, we have been hearing sounds of heavy bombing and shelling. The stored water has been exhausted and food is also getting over. We are going through difficult times," Bhowmik told PTI over a WhatsApp call from Kiev.

Following the closure of Ukranian airspace, India is facilitating evacuation of stranded Indians from Ukraine through its land border crossings with Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The first evacuation flight carrying 219 Indians from Bucharest landed in Mumbai on Saturday evening. The second flight with 250 nationals arrived in Delhi in the early hours of Sunday. The third Air India flight with around 240 Indians has also left for Delhi from Hungarian capital Budapest. India has named the evacuation mission as 'Operation Ganga'.

Russian troops have entered Ukraine's second city Kharkiv and fighting is under way, the head of the regional administration said, as per the AFP News Agency.

The fourth flight has left from Bucharest (Romania) to bring 198 Indian nationals to Delhi safely: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. Operation Ganga is underway.

Fourth #OperationGanga flight is wheels up from Bucharest.

198 Indian nationals are coming back to Delhi. https://t.co/ONUsu1qYk6

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 27, 2022

R Jagadishwar Reddy, DCP Shamshabad said, "As per information, 2nd batch of students will be repatriated in Delhi. From there, Telangana-Andhra students will come to Hyderabad. All facilities provided to them to get back home, they're provided cab facility to reach home from the airport."

"Indian Embassy was always supportive and used to send emails on what to do. Parents were worried and it was stressful while in Ukraine. Embassy took us to the Romanian border, passports were checked there & we entered Romania and were repatriated to India," students say. pic.twitter.com/IFxhYMcs1a

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2022

"Many Indians are stuck there. But we met minister Piyush Goyal in Mumbai after we landed, he ensured us that all our friends will be back. Govt of India has done good work. Relaxed after reaching India," ANI quoted a student as saying.

Indian students arrive from Ukraine at Delhi's IGI Airport, on a spl flight

"Many Indians are stuck there. But we met minister Piyush Goyal in Mumbai after we landed, he ensured us that all our friends will be back. Govt of India has done good work. Relaxed after reaching India" pic.twitter.com/Cw0ZcLho79

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2022

"12 people who had arrived in Mumbai just landed in Bengaluru. Another batch arrived in Delhi, they've been shifted to Karnataka Bhawan. We've booked their tickets to Bengaluru, they'll reach around 2-3 pm," Manoj Rajan, Commissioner, Karnataka State Disaster Mgmt Authority said, ANI reported. "Another set of 5 batches is arriving at 10.15 today. So, 18 confirmed at Delhi Airport today. As of now, we have details of 386 people belonging to Karnataka, stranded in Ukraine," he said.

Karnataka Minister R Ashoka welcomed students of the state who were stranded in Ukraine amid Russia-Ukraine conflict and arrived today. As per ANI report, he said, "Today 12 people from Mumbai arrived and 18 more from Delhi will arrive. State Revenue Department arranged everything at Karnataka Bhawan." He further said that as per the discussion last night with the Chief Minister, Revenue Department will pay for the flight tickets to Bengaluru for Kannadigas.

Russia unleashed a wave of attacks on Ukraine targeting airfields and fuel facilities in what appeared to be the next phase of an invasion that has been slowed by fierce resistance. The US and EU responded with weapons and ammunition for the outnumbered Ukrainians and powerful sanctions intended to further isolate Moscow. As per the PTI report, "Huge explosions lit up the sky early Sunday south of the capital, Kyiv, where people hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale assault by Russian forces."

Absolutely, both in the traditional and modern sense. It involves a military assault with air, sea and land forces being deployed in combination with sophisticated cyberattacks and relentless propaganda disseminated by conventional as well as social media. The invasion of Ukraine is just an expansion and escalation of the earlier hybrid war. It is a war that actually began after Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity, also known as Euromaidan, in 2013-14. That’s when widespread protests by citizens who wanted a closer relationship with Europe led to the ouster of then-president Viktor Yanukovych, who had asked Russia for help to put down the protests. Russia responded by illegally annexing Crimea, a section of Ukraine that touches the Russian border on the Black Sea. 

Russia also supplied military personnel, mercenaries and other resources in support of a small but militant minority of pro-Russian separatists in the largely Russian-speaking cities of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine’s east. More than 14,000 Ukrainians have died since 2014 in fighting in the Donbas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin nurses a deep sense of grievance over the loss of Russia’s power and influence since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Ukraine was formerly part of the Soviet Union but declared its independence in 1991. Having a prosperous, modern, independent and democratic European state bordering Russia was perceived as posing a threat to Russia’s autocratic regime. If Ukrainians succeeded in fully reforming their country along lines of other western democracies, it would set a bad precedent for former Soviet countries and serve as an example for Russians who want a more democratic country. Putin also perceives that western democracies are in a weak and particularly vulnerable state — thanks in part due to Russian efforts to create discord and sow divisions in Europe and North America abroad — making this an opportune time to launch a major military adventure, the PTI reported.

At least four students from Assam were among the first batch of Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Ukraine as they landed at Mumbai and New Delhi on separate flights since late Saturday night. 

Miss Himashree Kakati from Bongshar Sualkuchi,
and Ms Daisy Basumatary from Maligaon Guwahati, both studying medicine in UZHNU Ukrain, have been evacuated by MEA and on their arrival in Delhi today at 9-15 am received by officials from Assam Bhawan, Delhi . pic.twitter.com/TD1xtmQrA8

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 27, 2022

32 Gujarati students stranded in Ukraine arrived safely in New Delhi on Sunday morning by the rescue flight and they were overjoyed to be back home. "These students have been taken to the Gujarat Bhavan under the guidance of Arti Kanwar, resident commissioner, Government of Gujarat, New Delhi. From there, they will be brought to Gujarat in a state road transport Volvo bus," the chief minister's office in a statement.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said it is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who are reaching border checkpoints without prior intimation. It said that staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situation. "All those currently in the eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions, maintain calm, and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water and amenities available and remain patient," it said. READ MORE. 

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter on Saturday that Indian citizens in Ukraine should not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government officials there using the helpline numbers. "The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens," it mentioned. 

Today afternoon more than 470 students will exit the Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret Border. We are moving Indians located at the border to neighbouring countries for onward evacuation. Efforts are underway to relocate Indians coming from the hinterland. pic.twitter.com/iLFTWHifpm

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 25, 2022

Air India shared on Twitter photos of Scindia receiving the evacuees at the airport. "Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on February 27 early morning, operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine," the airline said. 

#FlyAI: HMCA @JM_Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on 27th Feb, '22 early morning, operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine. Thank you for guiding us on this mission @MoCA_GoI pic.twitter.com/y1DuYcjJTW

— Air India (@airindiain) February 26, 2022

Around 300 Indian students are stranded in Poltava, in central Ukraine, since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and see no way out. Muhammad Tabish, holed up in his rented apartment in Poltava, Ukraine, had just been told by teachers at the medical college he is attending that communication networks might be disconnected soon. Water is running out; explosions are sending anxiety soaring and everyone is stuck. From Meerut, he is a fourth-year student at the Poltava State Medical University. 

READ MORE | Russia-Ukraine War: Stranded Indian students face water shortage, fear network disruption

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began. Therefore, the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest. Indian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken to Bucharest and Budapest, respectively, by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they could be evacuated in these Air India flights, the officials said.

Addressing the returnees, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "I know you all have been through a very, very difficult time, a very, very trying time. But know this that the PM is with you at every step, the Indian government is with you at every step, and 130 crore Indians are with you at every step."

Air India's second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday, government officials said. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees at the airport by handing out roses to them. 

Third flight of #OperationGanga with 240 Indian nationals has taken off from Budapest for Delhi.

Köszönöm szépen FM Peter Szijjártó. pic.twitter.com/22EHK3RK3V

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2022