Given the fluid situation in Ukraine, India on Tuesday asked its students to leave that country immediately for some time due to “uncertainties.” Indian nationals were also advised to “avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.”
This was the first advisory by the Indian embassy in Kyiv asking “Indian nationals, particularly students whose stay is not essential, may consider leaving temporarily. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.”
The advisory also urged Indian citizens to keep the embassy informed about the status of their presence in Ukraine to enable the Embassy to reach out to them where required. The notice also said the embassy continues to function normally to provide all services to Indian nationals in Ukraine.
There are around 18,000-19,000 Indian students studying in Ukrainian medical institutions. However, many of them are in India due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Reports indicated that some Indian nationals were seeking information about the possibility of the Indian Government organising special flights to evacuate them. The US and several EU countries have already asked their nationals to leave Ukraine and scaled down their diplomatic missions.
India has, so far, preferred to remain out of the conflict.
At the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine, India had stated that security concerns of all countries should be taken into account to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Russia has reportedly deployed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s borders, triggering fears of an invasion. However, Russia denies that it is planning to launch an offensive against Ukraine.
Last month, India said it is keeping a close watch on the developments relating to Ukraine, including ongoing high-level discussions between Russia and the US, and called for a peaceful resolution of the situation for long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Indian Embassy in Kyiv is also monitoring local developments.
Last week, US President Joe Biden spoke to President Vladimir Putin over the phone and made clear that if Russia invades Ukraine, the US and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs”.