An Indian man in Ukraine has refused to leave the country, despite rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Even as India is evacuating Indians from the country, his refusal stays put because of his Ukrainian wife, who he said can’t be evacuated to India.
“I’m an Indian citizen, hence I can go to India but not my wife, who is a Ukrainian. I have been told that only Indians will be evacuated, and I can’t leave my family here”, he told news agency ANI.
India began Operation Ganga on February 26 – two days after Russian forces invaded Ukraine. Direct evacuation of Indians became impossible after the Ukrainian government shut down its airspace to civilian flights, forcing Indians to travel via land routes to neighbouring countries like Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova so they can be flown back.
Indian embassies in these and other nearby countries have set up checkpoints along the border with Ukraine in order to facilitate nationals in crossing over from the war-gripped country.
Flights by India – Air India and the Indian Air Force – then fly them out and back home.
(With inputs from agencies)
