Ensure safety of Indian students in Ukraine: KTR to Union Minister Jaishankar

"Have been receiving several messages from anxious parents of students. Hope Govt of India can work through diplomatic channels & reassure all Indians at the earliest," KTR tweeted.

Ukraine is currently under martial law. Several Ukrainian cities are under attack after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of what he is calling a "special military invasion" in Ukraine.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine has asked Indian nationals to not step out of their homes for at least two days. Since the airspace has been closed and there are several reported bombings in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, the embassy said that alternative arrangements are being made.

The number of Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine remains unconfirmed. The embassy has urged students to go to bomb shelters listed on Google Maps in unforeseen situations.

The Indian embassy had issued a notice requesting students to leave the country on 15 February 2022. However, many students couldn't leave due to the high cost of flights.

Earlier in the day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy had extended his support to the external affairs minister for evacuating Andhra Pradesh students from Ukraine. Several students from Andhra Pradesh studying in various colleges in Ukraine have sent an SoS to the state government seeking help.

"I would like to bring to your kind notice that the government of Andhra Pradesh will extend all possible support to the government of India in repatriating students of Andhra from Ukraine. I request the concerned MEA officials to reach out to Resident Commissioner Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi or officials from my office (Chief Minister's Office, Andhra Pradesh) for any assistance and support required for repatriating students belonging to AP," Jagan said in the letter to Mr. Jaishankar.