New Delhi: Amid the rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia, three flights of Air India will operate starting Tuesday to bring back Indian nationals including students. An aircraft left for Ukraine from India on Tuesday morning and will return to Delhi tonight. The other two flights are scheduled for February 24 and February 26.
The flights are scheduled to take off from the Boryspil International Airport in Ukraine. Last week, the airlines opened the bookings through their website, offices, call centre and authorised travel agents.
“FlyAI : Air India will operate 3 flights between India-Ukraine (Boryspil International Airport) India on 22nd, 24th & 26th FEB 2022 Booking open through Air India Booking offices, Website, Call Centre and Authorised Travel Agents,” Air India, which has recently been reacquired by the Tata Group tweeted.
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine has also advised Indian students to leave temporarily in the interest of their own safety. The Indian Embassy in Ukraine issued an advisory saying, “Students are advised, in the interest of safety, to leave Ukraine temporarily, rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities.”
Also read: Ukraine still tense as Imran plans Russia trip, India asks citizens to leave
The Embassy said that they are inundated with calls about the online classes and they are trying to streamline the process. “Embassy of India is receiving a large number of calls asking about the confirmation of online classes by Medical Universities. In this regard, as informed earlier, Embassy is engaged with respective authorities for streamlining of education process for Indian students. Students are advised, in the interest of safety, to leave Ukraine temporarily, rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities,” the advisory said.
Also read: ‘Conflict in Ukraine disrupting entire generation of children’
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has condemned Russian President Putin’s decision to “purportedly” recognize the “independence” of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. He made the remarks during an interaction with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, White House said.
During his interaction with the Ukrainian president, he reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Biden updated President Zelenskyy on the United States’ response, including our plan to issue sanctions. President Biden reiterated that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine.
