New Delhi

India is making alternate arrangements for evacuation of its citizens from Ukraine after the country closed its airspace iin the wake of the Russian military attacks on Thursday.

The plan is to make the Indians reach borders of Ukraine's neighbouring countries from where they could be evacated safely. the Indian Air Force is ready for the mission.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the ministry’s teams from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania are on their way to the adjoining land borders with Ukraine and asked Indian nationals in Ukraine near the border points to contact these teams.

@IndiainUkraine issues a fresh advisory for all Indian Nationals/Students in Ukraine.

Alternative arrangements are being made for evacuation of our citizens.

📞 Additional 24*7 helplines:

+38 0997300428
+38 0997300483
+38 0933980327
+38 0635917881
+38 0935046170 pic.twitter.com/95EHCPSOKy

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) February 24, 2022

 Indian ambassador in Kyiv Partha Satpathy interacted with the students stuck in Ukraine and briefed them about the evacuation plans. The MEA released a video clip of the interaction on Twitter:

Ambassador's Interaction with Indian Students in Kyiv.@MEAIndia @PIB_India @PIBHindi @DDNewslive @DDNewsHindi @DDNational @PMOIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/jrfXPlzPKY

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 24, 2022

“India is keenly watching the conflict situation between Russia and Ukraine Working out modalities on how we can evacuate Indian citizens from the country through neighboring nations along the western border of Ukraine. Times are uncertain and it's important to be calm. We'll continue to operate here till every Indian is back,” Partha Satpathy, Indian Ambassador to Ukraine said.

The closure of Ukrainian airspace has left thousands of Indians stranded in the country following Russian military attacks