New Delhi: Indian students in the Ukrainian city of Sumy remain keen to travel to Mariupol, located 600km away, but their plans are currently on hold amid reports of a ceasefire violation in the area.
On Saturday, Russia agreed to a temporary ceasefire in two cities – Mariupol and Volnovakha located in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk oblast – for humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to evacuate.
This prompted Indian students in Sumy, who had been facing a water shortage since a nearby power plant was bombed Thursday night, to announce that they would be taking evacuation into their own hands by heading to Mariupol. They added that should any student be harmed on the way, responsibility will fall on the Indian government.
VIDEO: Indian students at Sumy State University says this is their last video as they head to Mariupol, which is 600 km away. Russia has announced ceasefire in 2 cities. They say if anything happens to them govt and Indian embassy are responsible @DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/i2S5sI01VB
— Shemin (@shemin_joy) March 5, 2022
“We are afraid. We have waited a lot and we cannot wait anymore. We are risking our lives and will start heading towards the border. If anything happens to us, all the responsibility will be on the Indian government and the embassy,” said Niranjana Santhosh, 22, a student of Sumy State University who was speaking on behalf of her collegemates.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded by urging students to “stay inside shelters” and “avoid unnecessary risks”.
Have advised our students to take safety precautions, stay inside shelters and avoid unnecessary risks.
Ministry and our Embassies are in regular touch with the students.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 5, 2022
Moscow had earlier said the ceasefire in Mariupol and Volnovakha would come into force from 10 am Moscow time (12.30pm IST) but did not specify how long the routes would remain open.
However, a few hours after the announcement, Mariupol’s city council said fighting was still going on. “We are negotiating with the Russian side to confirm the ceasefire along the entire evacuation route,” the city said in a statement.
Speaking to ThePrint over WhatsApp call, Santhosh said, “We were planning to go. The embassy has asked us to sit tight for the next 4-5 hours while they try to come up with a solution through the nearest border. But we’re still keen to go to Mauripol if a ceasefire is eventually implemented.”
Between 600-800 Indian medical students from Sumy State University are currently hiding out across three different hostels near their university. They are facing water and food storage and little to no electricity in their hostels.
‘Not received a single advisory in 10 days’
Speaking to ThePrint, Kartik Nandwana, 24, a Sumy State University student, said the students were planning out routes to Mauripol which is located approximately 665 km south east away, close to the Russia border. However, they have not yet booked buses.
“It’s been 10 days and yet we’ve not received a single advisory from the government about evacuation plans. So, we were planning to arrange buses ourselves to Mauripol. We were prepared to pay even $100 per ticket,” he said.
Asked whether the students’ parents are supportive of this plan, he said, “Some students have not informed their parents yet. They don’t want to worry them. But let’s see whether the plan is feasible. The 600km distance is dangerous because there could be air strikes, shelling or land mines,” he added.
In an Instagram video Saturday, Sumy State University students demanded updates from the Indian embassy and government, adding that they are prepared to head to the border themselves even at the risk of getting shot.