Russia-Ukraine war: Air India brings home the first evacuation flight

Mumbai, February 26: The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals, which departed from Romania to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine, has landed here on late Saturday. The Air India Boeing aircraft had departed from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Mumbai at 3.38 am and reached Bucharest at around 10.45 am, according to an AI official. Indians evacuated from Ukraine were received by Union Minister Piyush Goyal at Mumbai airport. As the passengers landed, they thanked the Indian government. "I had trust upon Indian govt that they will definitely bring us back to our country. There was some fear and panic, but we are very happy to be back to India," saids an MBBS student who returned from Ukraine on the Air India flight. "Welcome back to the motherland! Glad to see the smiles on the faces of Indians safely evacuated from Ukraine at the Mumbai airport.Govt. led by PM @NarendraModi ji is working relentlessly to ensure safety of every Indian," tweeted Goyal. Since the morning of February 24, the Ukrainian airspace has been shut to civil aircraft operations, therefore evacuation flights are being operated out of Bucharest and Budapest. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. Also Read | Why is Russia declaring war against Ukraine? Here’s what you should know In an advisory to Indian nationals on Saturday, the embassy stressed that the situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and it is working continuously with Embassies in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens. "All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kiev," the advisory read. "Embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoints without prior intimation," it added. The embassy further advised Indians to stay in western cities of Ukraine where access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer. This comes as the Russian military continues to advance in the capital city of Ukraine, according to media reports. Explosions in parts of Kiev were heard on Friday as Russian forces approached the city, media reports said on Saturday. Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks. Also Read | Why Russia doesn’t want Ukraine want to join NATO | All you need to know -PTC News