India has brought back over 17,100 of its nationals from Ukraine. They are trying to evacuate students which are stuck in Sumy. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday confirmed that the evacuation process for Indian students in the city has started and they are being been taken in buses to Poltava.
Nearly 700 students are stranded in Sumy have been witnessing an intense fight between Russian and Ukrainian troops. About half the people sleeping in underground shelters without food, water, power and heating in Mariupol were supposed to be evacuated on Sunday, but the ceasefire arrangement collapsed.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Russian forces were trying to block and keep encircled Sumy, along with Kharkiv and several other cities, the Associated Press reported.
“Is there a Ukrainian citizen who is near Sumy State University? needed help? Some Indian children are stuck there; help them with food and water? Or can someone help them out??” a student wrote on Twitter.
Another user shared, “I am a student in Sumy, Ukraine. YES WE EXIST!!! There are 700-800 students in Sumy. It’s the 7th day of attack and there is no confirmed news on our evacuation. Stress, fear and anxiety are getting to us. Hope is lost. Pls help.”
Students have shared several videos of their plight, saying they have scant resources and fear for their lives. Videos showed them collecting snow to melt for water as they reportedly don't have access to enough food and water.