Man addressing students is not Putin, but Indian ambassador to Romania

HYDERABAD: A video claiming to show Russian President Putin having an in-flight talk with the Indian students evacuated from Ukraine, is being shared online.

Netizens claim that Putin went on board an Air India aircraft to 'convince Indians'.

Indian authorities have launched a massive evacuation operation to airlift students who have been able to reach neighboring countries of Ukraine.

"Russian President Putin himself directly went on aircraft of (AI) AIR INDIA to convince Indians. What a Respect for India. Be proud to be an Indian. PMModiji Great Ji (sic)," reads the description of the video.

FACT CHECK:

The viral video carries the logo of ET NOW. The same video was shared by ET NOW's Twitter account on 26 February. The caption identifies the man in the video as India's Ambassador to Romania Rahul Shrivastava.

"Whenever you face difficulty in life, remember this day & everything will be fine" - Listen in to India's Ambassador to #Romania Rahul Shrivastava's special message to Indian nationals onboard #AirIndia flight@AmbShrivastava @DrSJaishankar @sameerdixit16 #Ukraine #Evacuation pic.twitter.com/jfSm5Ev1ZZ

— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) February 26, 2022

According to reports by Economic Times, Hindustan Times, and ANI, Shrivastava addressed the students on board the first evacuation flight from Bucharest to Mumbai. He told the students that this was the last leg of the journey back home. He reminded them of people who are still stuck in Ukraine and assured them that the entire government of India is working day and night to evacuate everyone. "Our mission is not complete until we take the last Indian out of Ukraine… Whenever in life you feel things are becoming difficult, things are not moving, remember this day, February 26, and everything will be fine," he said.

#WATCH | "...Entire GoI is working day & night to evacuate everyone and our mission is not complete till we have evacuated the last person. Remember this day 26th Feb in your life...," Rahul Shrivastava, Indian Ambassador in Romania to the evacuated Indians from #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Ro4pBGrB76

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

The same video was also shared by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting identifying the man as Rahul Shrivastava, Indian Ambassador in Romania.

The man in the viral video is not Russian President Putin but the Indian Ambassador to Romania Rahul Shrivastava.