Cashless, foodless and filled with fear: State of Indian students in Ukraine

Anurag Kamble Vishal Singh and Faizan KhanPanicStricken students stuck in Ukraine have urged the Indian government to help them with food and travel which has become prohibitively expensive Some of the students that midday spoke to said they have money in their accounts but no cash in hand as banks and ATMs are closed Scores of students rushed to the Indian embassy in Kyiv on Thursday morning where officials appeared cluelessAdnan Khan an Indian student said American students have left the country through Poland ldquoForeign students have been leaving Ukraine for the last two weeks In fact most of them left the country 6 days ago On February 20 the Indian government issued an advisory asking us to leave Ukraine that too on our expenses when the air ticket price had zoomed from Rs 23000 to Rs 80000rdquo said KhanOn Thursday morning hundreds of students rushed to the Indian embassy in Kyiv ldquoIt was so chaotic not a single official knew what to do They didnrsquot even open the door to answer our queries Later they asked us to wait and took us to a nearby school Since morning we are sitting here with no foodrdquo said Kshitij Singh from New Delhi ldquoWe have been told that we would be evacuated But when is the real questionrdquoGhatkopar resident Sultan Shaikhrsquos brother Suleman Mohammed Ali Shaikh who went to Ukraine to study MBBS in 2019 is among those who are stranded He said Suleman and many other students have been put up in a college ldquoMy brother and his friends had taken a few biscuit packets Thatrsquos all they have to eatrdquo said SultanGhatkopar resident Suleman Mohammed Ali Shaikh is a student of Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University right Utkarsh Singh an MBBS student at Ternopil National UniversityHe said all shops banks and ATMs are shut ldquoEven if my brother has money in his account he cannot withdraw it They have been asked to stay put at the college They have no idea whatrsquos happening outsiderdquo said SultanSuleman who did his HSC at RJ Jhunjhunwala College in Ghatkopar studies at Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University Sultan said the ticket prices have skyrocketed and his brother needs government help to buy a flight ticketVirar resident Bhagyashree Chikhalkar is stranded in Ivano Frankivsk ldquoSince morning we are hearing the sound of missiles and blasts The airport is fully destroyed We are in touch with the Indian embassy and we have been told to stock up essentials and keep our bags ready We want the Indian government to rescue us as soon as possible as we fear for our livesrdquoKshitij Singh from New Delhi is a firstyear MBBS student at Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University ldquoI had booked tickets for February 24 The first the flight was rescheduled for 90 minutes and then we were told that flight operations have been suspended Now we all have been lodged in a school in Kyiv There are 120 students hererdquo He added ldquoWe donrsquot know whether we will get a chance to leave or Russian forces will reach us We are prayingrdquoDivyanshu Gahlot president of the Indian community in IvanoFrankivsk where about 1500 students are stuck said they are yet to receive any help from the Indian government ldquoThe situation here is worse than what is being reported in the media Fighter jets are literally flying over our heads I am in touch with government officials but no one is helping usrdquo Gahlot told middayAdnan Khan from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh studies at Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi said he landed in the country just 20 days ago He and about 60 students are staying in their college hostel ldquoFor now we have food and water but we donrsquot know what will happen in the next 24 hours The Indian embassy has assured us of evacuation from the Romanian siderdquo said the 22yearoldUtkarsh Singh 23 a fourthyear MBBS student at Ternopil National University said they are miles away from the conflict zone but everyone is in a panic ldquoPeople fear this invasion may turn into a fullfledged war and will hurt everyonerdquoRecalling his experience there Utkarsh said ldquoThis is a fantastic country with peaceful people but there is unrest since September 2021 There was a discussion about what could be the fallout of the tension at the border but finally the invasion has taken placerdquo Hailing from Nalanda Bihar Utkarsh added ldquoThe Indian embassy needs to evacuate each and every student through whatever way is possiblerdquolsquoCan hear fighter jetsrsquoDivyanshu Gahlot president of the Indian community in IvanoFrankivsklsquoThe situation here is worse than what is being reported in the media Fighter jets are literally flying over our head I am in touch with goverment officials but no one is helping usrsquoAdnan Khan resident of Bijnor in UPlsquoFor now we have food and water but we donrsquot know what will happen in the next 24 hours The Indian embassy has assured us of evacuation from the Romanian sidersquoUtkarsh Singh MBBS student at Ternopil National UniversitylsquoWe are miles away from the conflict zone but everyone is in a panic People fear this invasion may turn into a fullfledged war and will hurt everyonersquoTimelineJanuary 25 Indian Embassy in Ukraine starts collecting details of Indians in UkraineFebruary 15 Embassy of India Kyiv releases advisory for Indian nationals asking those whose stay is not essential to consider leaving temporarily Special helpline numbers and email Id releasedFebruary 16 Embassy releases FAQs asks Indian citizens to maintain calm and not panicFebruary 18 Air India announces 3 flights between IndiaUkraine on February 22 24 and 26February 20 Embassy releases another advisory asking Indians to leave Ukraine temporarilyFebruary 22 Embassy advises students to leave Ukraine in the interest of their safetyFebruary 24 Embassy asks Indians to remain safe wherever they are be it in home hostels or in transit All Indians travelling to Kyiv asked to return18kEstimated number of Indian students in Ukraine