Kiev: A view of the national flag of Ukraine waves over the capital, with the Motherland Monument at right in Kiev Sunday, February 13, 2022.
India on Sunday asked the family members of its embassy staff in Ukraine to return home and advised its citizens to leave the country temporarily in view of the “high level” of tensions and uncertainties there. Official sources said the families of Indian Embassy officials in Ukraine have been asked to go back to India.
The Indian embassy in Kiev issued a fresh advisory in which it also asked all Indian students to leave the country temporarily amid the ongoing tension between NATO countries and Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
“In view of the continuing high level of tension and uncertainties regarding the situation in Ukraine, all Indian nationals whose stay is not deemed necessary and all Indian students are advised to temporarily leave Ukraine,” the embassy said.
It said that for “orderly and timely departure” from Ukraine, commercial flights and charter flights available for travel could be availed.
“Indian students are advised to also contact the respective student contractors for updates regarding charter flights and continue to follow the embassy’s Facebook, website and Twitter for any updates,” the embassy said.
According to an official document in 2020, Ukraine had a small but vibrant Indian community and about 18,000 Indian students were studying in that country.
Russia and Belarus have increased military exercises along the border with Ukraine amid rising tensions. The exercise was scheduled to end on Sunday. Many Western countries have warned that Russia is ready to attack Ukraine soon.
The US and its western allies have been severely critical of Russia’s military build-up along the Ukraine border. The US has already sent additional troops to Europe to support its allies in the backdrop of fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has deployed nearly 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine, in addition to sending warships to the Black Sea for naval exercises, raising concerns among NATO countries about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is seeking guarantees that Ukraine should never be allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
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