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Kyiv: Amid a brewing conflict with Russia, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine’s Kyiv on Wednesday assured that it was monitoring the situation. Earlier this week, the Embassy had issued an advisory for Indian nationals, urging them to temporarily leave the country as tensions escalate. They had also been asked to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.
“We are aware that many Indian students are presently in Ukraine, and their families are anxious about their wards, particularly about getting flights to India. Discussions are underway with civil aviation authorities and various airlines on how to increase the number of flights between India and Ukraine,” government sources said today.
Amid escalating tension between Russia and NATO countries over the eastern European nation, the Embassy is also monitoring developments. Control Rooms in the Embassy as well as in the Ministry of External Affairs are being setup to respond to queries of Indian nationals in Ukraine and their families in India.
There are approximately 18,000 Indian students studying in Ukraine, mainly in the field of medicine. Indian business professionals work predominantly in fields such pharmaceuticals, IT, engineering, medicine and education. Many however remain hesitant about leaving the country, despite the Embassy’s recent advisory. Reports indicate that skyrocketing flight ticket prices (especially after the Ministry of External Affairs’ advisory) have made many unwilling to travel home.
The flight ticket prices have risen from Rs 50,000 to over Rs 70,000 and the students say it is this financial hurdle that is forcing them to stay put despite the advisory by the Indian government. On normal days, the flight tickets would cost Rs 21,000-Rs 26,000.