New Delhi: “We could feel the tremors when bombing took place this morning. It was within a 15-km radius from where we stay,” Khushboo Qureshi, a fifth-year student at Ukraine’s Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University, told ThePrint. An ammunition depot in Vinnytsia was rocked by an explosion Thursday
As Russian forces launched a military operation in Ukraine that has reportedly left more than 50 people dead thus far, Indian students stranded in the country — with flights, buses, and trains not operating — are anxious in the face of the escalating situation and disruptions to life.
The Indian embassy in Kyiv released an advisory Thursday asking Indians to remain where they are. It advised those travelling to Kyiv to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards places along Ukraine’s western border, deemed to be safer. .
All those who are travelling to Kyiv, incl those travelling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries: Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine #RussiaUkraineConflict pic.twitter.com/QAxAdK0FQ4
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022
However, students who ThePrint spoke to pointed to the difficulties they face if they remain as advised, saying that grocery stores had run out of supplies and banks had stopped functioning. Some said they had been facing a blackout since Thursday morning and were unable to use their phones to connect to their family back home.
“Although there isn’t any bombing happening right now, grocery stores have run out of items, and banks and ATMs are not functioning. It’s difficult to remain calm in such a situation,” said Qureshi.
‘It’s not safe anywhere’
Rishikesh Anand, a student at Uzhhorod National University, said, “Both train and bus stations have stopped operating in Kyiv. The Ukraine police have been guarding the stations and they are not allowing us to enter.” Anand said he and his friends were to board a Qatar Airways flight back to India, but it was cancelled at the last minute.
“Our university has arranged a private bus for us, and we are now being taken back to our campus. It is located in the western part of the country and is believed to be a little safer,” he added.
“Many Indian students stuck in Kyiv have been making rounds of airports and railway stations since last night but to no avail,” said Aryan Yadav, whose friends are also stranded in Ukraine.
“It’s not safe anywhere. Sending them to the west side is no use. The embassy should speak to the Russian Federation and immediately get the students out, or at least get them to safer places like Poland or Moscow,” he added.
Speaking to ThePrint about the plight of getting out of Ukraine, Parizad, who landed in New Delhi Thursday, said, “Everyone was afraid as boarding from Kyiv is like going inside a bombshell which can explode anytime. I fortunately boarded Wednesday afternoon when the situation wasn’t that intense.”
(Edited by Rohan Manoj)
Also read: India planning alternate routes to get citizens out as Ukraine airspace shuts down