Despite MEA warnings, Indian students continue to study in war-torn Ukraine
Despite MEA warnings: The Russia-Ukraine war forced nearly 20,000 Indian students studying medicine in Ukraine to return home seven months ago, in March. An estimated 1,000 students who fled the fighting have returned to Ukraine to continue their education since September.
Despite MEA warnings: Nearly two months after Indian students began returning to war-torn Ukraine to resume their studies, a new escalation of the conflict with Russia — which resulted in India issuing two consecutive advisories urging its citizens to leave the country immediately — has added to the students’ uncertainty.
Despite the renewed tension, the young people, primarily medical students. That have decided to remain in Ukraine for the time being, with many claiming they have no choice.
Others say they are waiting and watching to see what happens next. Some students temporarily relocate to neighbouring Hungary and Slovakia, which have issued 30-day permits at the border. While for others, the daily sirens and underground bunkers are gradually becoming a part of their daily routine.
A fifth-year Lviv National Medical University student said he has temporarily moved in with friends in Hungary, where he is taking online classes. India issued its second weekly advisory on Tuesday, advising its citizens to “leave Ukraine by all means. In a previous advisory on October 19, New Delhi announced its citizens not to travel to Ukraine and advised students. Who had returned to the country to leave due to the “deteriorating security situation.”
The Russia-Ukraine war forced nearly 20,000 Indian students studying medicine in Ukraine to return home seven months ago, in March.
An estimated 1,000 students who fled the fighting have returned to Ukraine to continue their education since September.
The latest round of advisories comes amid increased hostilities air strikes. And missile attacks are now targeting the relatively safer western Ukrainian cities of Lviv and Ternopil and Russia’s claim. That Ukraine was planning to usage a “dirty bomb” laced with nuclear material. With Western countries rejecting Russia’s allegation as a pretext for escalating the eight-month-long conflict, many fear the worst is yet to come.
