Air India to operate India-Ukraine flights to help Indians amid Russian threat
By Sanjay Maurya
On February 22, 24, and 26, Air India will operate three flights between India and Ukraine. Flights will take off from Boryspil International Airport, with reservations available through Air India’s booking offices, website, call center, and authorized travel agents.
On the 22nd, 24th, and 26th of February 2022, Air India will operate three flights between India and Ukraine (Boryspil International Airport). “Air India Booking offices, Website, Call Center, and Authorized Travel Agents” are available for booking, according to a tweet from the airline on 18th February.
This news of Air India has come at a time when NATO countries and Russia are face to face over the situation in Ukraine, a country in Eastern Europe. The administration announced yesterday that it has no urgent plans to withdraw its citizens or diplomatic staff from Ukraine. It had also stated that its priority had been to ensure the safety of its citizens rather than anything “bigger.” At a news conference, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokeswoman Arindam Bagchi stated, “Our focus is and remains on Indian citizens, Indian students, and Indian nationals rather than anything wider than that, and in terms of what we need to do to ensure that they are secure.”
Bagchi added that the air bubble arrangement only allowed for a limited number of flights between India and Ukraine, but that the limits on the number of flights and passengers had been lifted, making it easier for Indians to return home.
He went on to say that Indian airlines are being pushed to offer charter flights between India and Ukraine, as well as flights from Almaty, Sharjah, Istanbul, and Dubai.
In light of the present situation’s uncertainty, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv encouraged Indian people, particularly students, to temporarily leave the country. It further advised Indian citizens to refrain from all non-essential travel to and inside Ukraine.
Meanwhile, according to reports, more than 40% of Russian soldiers on the Ukraine border are now ready to attack, and Moscow has begun a campaign of destabilization, according to a US defence official. The US, which believes Russia has deployed more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders, has seen considerable activity since 16th February, according to the reports, insisting on anonymity. “Between forty and fifty percent of the troops are in attack mode. In the previous 48 hours, they have uncoiled in tactical assembly “According to the official.
