Indians in Kyiv advised to leave urgently, PM Modi asks IAF to join evacuation efforts

Indian Embassy in Ukraine issued a statement on March 1, 2022 All Indian citizens were advised to leave Ukraine’s capital Kyiv immediately today. The advisory comes amid the deteriorating security situation due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv immediately today. Preferably by available trains or by any other means available.” Indian Embassy in Ukraine tweeted. It comes as satellite images show a massive Russian military convoy, some 40 miles long, consisting of tanks, artillery and logistics vehicles parked outside the Ukrainian capital city.

Consultation to Indians in Kyiv

All Indian citizens including students are advised to leave Kyiv immediately today. Preferably by available trains or by any other means available.

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine)
1 March 2022

The embassy said that since February 24, 400 students kept with the embassy successfully left Kyiv by train with the efforts of the mission. The embassy today ensured movement of over 1000 Indian students from Kyiv to western Ukraine and advised the remaining few students in Kyiv to leave after the curfew is lifted.

The 400 students housed with the embassy since 24 February successfully left Kyiv by train with the efforts of the mission.
Today the movement of more than 1000 students from Kyiv to the west was ensured.
The few remaining students in Kyiv were advised to leave after the curfew is lifted.@MEAIndia

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine)
February 28, 2022

Union Minister RK Singh welcomed the stranded Indian students at the Delhi airport earlier today. He said, “The government is committed to bring back every Indian stranded there. Four ministers were deputed to organize this. There are help desks of the states, help desks of the Ministry of Power, officials of the ministry. Whatever assistance is given to the students. Will be needed, they will be provided.”

The government is committed to bring back every Indian stranded there. Four ministers were deputed for its organization. The help desks of the states, the help desks of the Ministry of Power, are officials of the ministry. Whatever assistance the students need will be provided: Union Minister RK Singh pic.twitter.com/EOaVp3OL2q

— ANI (@ANI)
1 March 2022

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also welcomed the stranded Indians from Hungary at the Delhi airport. “Many of your friends are still stuck in #Ukraine, tell them that efforts are being made to bring them back home. Efforts will continue till all of them are brought back,” the minister said.

#Watch , Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya welcomed stranded Indians at Delhi airport. “Many of your friends are still stuck #UkraineExplain that efforts are being made to bring them back home. Trying to keep going till all of them are brought back…,” he says. pic.twitter.com/c5NzLyunK

— ANI (@ANI)
1 March 2022

PM Modi asks IAF to join efforts to evacuate people in Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Indian Air Force to augment the ongoing evacuation efforts under ‘Operation Ganga’ to join the evacuation efforts in Ukraine on March 2, 2022.

The capability of the Air Force will ensure that more people can be evacuated in less time. It will also help Ukraine deliver humanitarian aid more efficiently. Indian Air Force may deploy several C-17 aircraft from today under ‘Operation Ganga’.

7 flights to reach Delhi tomorrow carrying stranded Indians from Ukraine

At least seven flights carrying stranded Indians from Ukraine will reach Delhi tomorrow under Operation Ganga. So far, a total of nine flights have already brought back stranded Indian nationals from Ukraine. Indigo Airlines’ first flight will take off from Budapest, the capital of Hungary this evening and will land at Delhi airport at around 7:20 am tomorrow. The flight has a carrying capacity of 216 passengers.

SpiceJet to operate special evacuation flight to Slovakia with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

A special evacuation flight of SpiceJet carrying Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju will leave from New Delhi for Kosice, Slovakia to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. The aircraft is scheduled to fly directly from Delhi to Kosice and will return via a technical halt at Kutaisi, Georgia.