Since Russia invaded Ukraine, India has deported a number of students. Students who immigrated to Romania and Hungary were evacuated by the Indian government on special evacuation aircraft.
According to the BBC, India’s air force is expected to deploy a C-17 Globemaster aircraft on Tuesday to revive stranded students and civilians.”We are hoping the Indian government will do something for students like us who are stuck in Kyiv and Kharkiv, either by arranging flights or by the embassy helping us get to the border,” one of the students said in an interview with BBC Punjabi.Some students claim that Ukrainian border guards harassed them at the Polish border. The guards allegedly thrashed individuals with rods and even pulled female pupils’ hair to prevent them from crossing over. Footage posted on social media reveals guards hitting a guy’s bag, although it’s unclear whether the man was Indian.
Some students have applauded the government’s actions, claiming that when they eventually made it to evacuation sites, embassy personnel offered them food and drink. Others, however, believe the government should do more to assist them in leaving Ukraine and to prevent the persecution they claim they face at border checkpoints.
While Indian students were taking shelter wherever they possibly could find, there were around 500 students taking shelter in a hostel basement. In this video which went viral online, hundreds of students were seen eagerly waiting for help from the Indian government to rescue them.