Help Indian students in Ukraine: Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil to PM Narendra Modi

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister and state NCP Chief Jayant Patil on Sunday urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend help to the Indians, especially Indian students, in Ukraine, as the country faces a threat of war with neighbouring Russia.

"The situation on the Russia Ukraine border has been escalating for the last 15 days. There are approx 18k Indians, most of them are students in #Ukraine, waiting for help. I request PM @narendramodi to ensure the safety of students & evacuate them as early as possible. They are our future," said Jayant Patil in a tweet.

Patil’s request to PM came after in a recent announcement to repatriate stranded Indians from Ukraine, India's prime airlines Air India on Friday announced that it will operate 3 flights between India-Ukraine from Ukraine's Boryspil International Airport on Feb 22, Feb 24 and Feb 26.

India on Sunday advised its nationals, especially students and others whose stay is not essential, to leave Ukraine in view of continued high level tensions and uncertainties over a possible invasion by Russian forces. The Indian students were advised to get in touch with their student contractors for updates on charter flights, and to continue following the Indian embassy’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account for updates.

An advisory issued by the Indian embassy in Kyiv said Indian nationals should take available commercial or charter flights for an “orderly and timely departure”. This was the second advisory issued by the embassy since February 15 and it followed a spike in violence in eastern Ukraine.