New Delhi, March 3: The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said a total of 18,000 Indian nationals had left Ukraine since the first travel advisory was issued by the Indian Embassy in Kyiv.
As many as 18 flights are scheduled for the next 24 hours, including three IAF C-17 and other commercials flights such as Air India, Indigo, Spice jet, Go first and Go Air, said MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, speaking at the special briefing on Operation Ganga, to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine amid Russia's military operation.
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"A total of 18,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since our first advisory was released. At least 30 flights under Operation Ganga have brought back 6,400 Indians from Ukraine so far. In the next 24 hours, 18 flights have been scheduled," he said.
He further said a total of 30 flights were part of Operation Ganga till now and around 6,400 Indian citizens had safely landed in India. "We are closely following development in Eastern Ukraine, Kharkiv. We are currently looking at transport options to shift Indians to Western Ukraine," he said.
Bagchi said the government would further step up efforts to bring all Indian nationals back to India at the earliest. "This increased number of flights reflects the large number of Indians who have crossed over from Ukraine and are now in the neighbouring countries. We will further step up efforts to bring all these Indian nationals back to India at the earliest," he added.
-PTC News
