Guardians in a War Zone

How Volunteers Became Lifelines for Stranded Indian Students in Ukraine

Amid the thunder of war and the shadow of uncertainty, hope wore the face of selfless service. BAPS volunteers emerged as silent heroes, guiding hundreds of anxious Indian students towards safety. From shelter and food to coordinated evacuation, their compassion turned chaos into a path home. This is the story of courage, coordination, and humanity rising above the horrors of conflict

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated sharply in February 2022 after months of rising tensions. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation”, citing security concerns related to NATO expansion. Soon after, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed his nation, calling for resistance.

Within hours, explosions were reported in major Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv. Missiles struck key infrastructure, air raid sirens wailed continuously, and civilians rushed into underground shelters. Hospitals declared emergencies as casualties began to rise, and the Ukrainian government urged citizens in high-risk areas to evacuate.

Amid the unfolding crisis, thousands of Indian students found themselves stranded, far from home and gripped by uncertainty. With flights suspended and borders under pressure, fear and confusion spread rapidly among them. The situation soon turned into a humanitarian concern, setting the stage for urgent evacuation efforts led by the Government of India. As a result, special flights, diplomatic coordination, and border assistance were set in motion. Yet, given the rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground, it became clear that additional support networks were essential for immediate, on-the-ground relief.

Recognising this urgency, the Prime Minister, Modi, reached out to trusted social and spiritual organisations with a strong global presence. Among them was the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, known for its disciplined volunteer base and humanitarian service.

PM Narendra Modi personally called a senior swami of BAPS at midnight on Sunday, February 27, asking for assistance from BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in ensuring the safe passage of Indian nationals on the Polish, Romanian and Hungarian borders with Ukraine. Thus began a BAPS humanitarian mission. With time being critical and students scattered across conflict zones, coordination had to be swift and decisive. Communication channels were activated, and efforts began almost immediately to locate, guide, and support Indian students, many of whom were navigating unfamiliar territory under extreme stress. It was not merely about transportation, but about giving love, solace, reassurance, shelter, food, and guidance in moments of fear. This marked the beginning of a remarkable chapter of service, where top strategy, organised, timely action, and compassion came together to support thousands far from home.

Instructed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, volunteers from the UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Poland stepped immediately into the field without concern for their personal jobs, businesses, or plans. They swiftly sprang into action, wholeheartedly supporting the emergency relief efforts on the ground. They set up a mobile field kitchen in the south-eastern Polish city of Rzeszów, which began feeding around 1,000 hot vegetarian meals daily to refugees of all faiths and nationalities. BAPS also arranged accommodation facilities, coordinated medical assistance, and worked closely with the Indian government as well as local partners to further expand the humanitarian efforts as the situation escalated.

Vijay Kumar Singh, former Army Chief of Staff and current Minister of State for Transport and Civil Aviation, observed the tireless efforts of the volunteers first-hand in Rzeszów. He commented, “BAPS has always been at the forefront of community service, being the first to arrive and the last to leave. The people of India are indebted to your swift, selfless, and organised action.”

In addition to emergency relief and administrative support for local government agencies, BAPS volunteers further provided vital emotional care and comfort to refugees, both at the relief camp set up by the Indian Embassy in Rzeszów as well as on the Polish-Ukrainian border. Closely observing this, Her Excellency Nagma M Mallick, Ambassador of India to Poland & Lithuania, also thanked these volunteers.

Working in close coordination, these combined efforts led to the successful evacuation of stranded Indians. Subsequently, the Government of India, with the support of the Indian Air Force, took full charge of the large-scale airlift operation, aptly dubbed ‘Operation Ganga’. Through ‘Operation Ganga’, around 23,000 Indians were successfully evacuated from Ukraine, of which 3,700 were evacuated from Poland in 17 flights. The flights out of Poland also carried, notably, over 600 students from Sumy who had fled the Ukrainian war zone on a long, perilous journey to Przemysl in south-eastern Poland.

Mahant Swami Maharaj closely monitored the entire humanitarian effort, offering constant guidance and encouragement. Through repeated video calls, he personally inspired volunteers, strengthening their resolve to serve with dedication and compassion. At the same time, Swamiji offered heartfelt prayers for the safety of the stranded Indian students and for peace and harmony between the two nations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally praised and thanked the volunteers of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, who rendered selfless service during the critical evacuation efforts of Indian nationals from Ukraine and neighbouring countries, in a special video conference.

Through ‘Operation Ganga’, around 23,000 Indians were successfully evacuated from Ukraine, of which 3,700 were evacuated from Poland in 17 flights

The writer Dr Swami Gyanananddas, is a dedicated follower of the Swaminarayan tradition and has earned a PhD from MS University; Views presented are personal.