New Delhi| March, 1: India on Tuesday urged all its citizens to leave Ukraine capital Kyiv “urgently today, by trains or any other means available”. “All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available,” says the latest advisory from the Indian Embassy in Ukraine.
Monday this week the embassy had asked students to go to the railway station in Kyiv, where special evacuation trains have been arranged by Ukraine to take people to the western region.
“We sincerely request all Indian nationals/students to remain calm, peaceful and united. A large crowd can be expected at the railway stations, therefore, it is advised that all Indian students remain patient, composed and especially not to exhibit aggressive behaviour while at the railway station,” the advisory said. The students were asked to carry their passport, sufficient cash, good and proper clothing.
The advisory asked students to expect train delays or cancellations, and long queues. Indian students are being moved to Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic – all nations which share border with Ukraine – before they are brought back to India under Operation Ganga. The Indian government has set up a dedicated Twitter handle to assist in the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine under Operation Ganga. The Twitter account lists helpline numbers in Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic – all nations which share a border with Ukraine. Russia started military operations against Ukraine on Thursday morning after months of tension over the former Soviet republic’s proximity to NATO. Around 16,000 Indian students are still stranded in Ukraine. Many have made desperate appeals for help, sharing photos and videos on social media from underground bunkers, and bomb shelters, where they have been sheltering from Russian bombs and missiles.
