6,000 Indians brought back to country from Ukraine so far: Union minister

The student stated she and other Indian students did not bother to rush back home initially as the university authorities assured them there was a least possibility of outbreak of war or an emergency-like situation.

It was also difficult for a majority of students to manage to find money for flight tickets at the last minute.

“We had no idea what to do or where to go. Luckily, compared to many other cities, Chernivtsi was not that affected. I was included in the first list of 250 students, prepared by the university, to be sent to India,” she said.

From the university campus, they were taken in specially arranged buses on February 25 afternoon to the Romanian border to be shifted to the airport.

The Indian flag was tied in front of the bus and police vehicles gave necessary escort, she said, adding, without that it was not possible to reach the border crossing amid the heavy traffic blocks and other security issues.

“Special vehicles were arranged to ferry us from there to Bucharest in Romania. After several hours of travel and halts, we finally reached the airport where the Embassy officials gave us food packets and water. After landing in Mumbai, I reached Kochi on February 27. Normally, the journey would take only nine hours,” the visibly relieved Thomas said.

Daughter of Rev Father Thomas Kurian and Gissy Thomas, the medical student said she could be happy only when all her friends and other stranded students reach their respective homes safely from the war zone.

“Now, the government and the university have declared two weeks holiday for us. Hope they will launch online classes after that in the wake of the developments,” she added.

Eighty-two Malayali students, who were studying in Ukraine and left after the Russian invasion of that country, had arrived in Kerala by Sunday night. (PTI)