J K Tripathi

On March 11, India completed “Operation Ganga”, which rescued Indian students stranded and caught in the crossfire of the Russia-Ukraine war. This two-week rescue operation was the biggest ever in post-cold war history as it involved almost 20,000 Indian students including a few from some South Asian and African countries studying in Ukraine.

Contrary to the criticism from some politicians and media concerns that the Indian Government was slow in responding to the plight of the hapless Indians confined in Ukraine, the Government started gearing up quite early when, in its analysis, the ground situation started deteriorating amidst the din of confusion over the possibility of an armed conflict between the two sides. On February 15, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv issued its first advisory asking the Indians including students in Ukraine, whose stay was “not essential, to consider leaving the country given the uncertainties of the current situation” and in any case, “keep the Embassy informed about their presence in Ukraine to enable the Embassy to reach them wherever required”. 

It was quickly followed by more advisories issued almost on daily basis giving them information about the commercial flights available on February 22, 24, and 26, the procedure of booking the tickets, etc. On February 24, they were informed by the Embassy through another advisory that since the air space was closed, alternative arrangements were being worked out. Each development and step was being shared through subsequent advisories including the availability of trains, the presence of Indian rescue teams at the borders, documents and winter clothes required there, etc. They were also informed that those who can travel, must carry among other things, the Indian flag or its printout to prima facia establish their bona fides. 

In an operation of such magnitude, the coordination between various agencies and government wings was outstanding. At every level, from political leadership to diplomatic missions, various ministries including the ministries of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Defence, and security organizations performed their roles well. Ignoring the mounting pressure from some sections of the intelligentsia and political parties to clarify which side does India stand in this war, Prime Minister Modi decided to choose the path of neutrality and advocacy of negotiations towards lasting peace and, in his multiple conversations with Putin and Zelensky, the Indian leader echoed our stand while asking them to help India evacuate her citizens which was our priority in the situation. He also spoke with the heads of State of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania to ensure the friendly treatment of Indians at their borders with Ukraine. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs also remained in regular touch with his counterparts not only in Moscow and Kyiv but also in other capitals in the region to ensure a hassle-less and smooth operation of the program. This cautious approach paid well when both countries agreed to allow peaceful travel of Indian students to Ukrainian borders. Russia especially stationed many busses at its Eastern city of Belgorod to enable the Indian team there to transport the evacuees to Moscow. However, the need for evacuation through Russia did not arise. 

Prime Minister held many regular meetings to finetune the Government’s plan of evacuation. At the implementation level, it was decided to send four cabinet ministers as India’s special envoys to Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia to coordinate the whole evacuation process which involved bringing the students (wherever it was possible in the dangerous situation of Kharkiv, Sumi, Kyiv Mariupol), an inspection of their documents, immigration at the border check-posts, boarding/lodging after they enter these countries and their flights back to India. The four ministers very carefully chosen were JyotiradityaScindia, Minister of Civil Aviation since Operation Ganga involved airlifting of Indian students; Hardeep puri, minister for Petroleum for his expertise in diplomacy and human rights as he had been our permanent Representative in UN in Geneva and New York; Kiran Rijiju, Minister of Law for coordination with local authorities in case of any legal obstacles and Gen. (Retd.) V. K. Singh for his vast experience in similar operations in the past.

The National Security Advisor Ajit Doval too played a very important role in the operation to ensure from the security point of view the safety of the evacuees and the Indian teams assisting them in the process. He had extensive telephone discussions with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Pastrushev more than once to fine-tune the evacuation program.

The gigantic nature of the operation Ganga can be imagined from the fact that47 Indian staff from our embassies elsewhere were deputed to further strengthen the existing strength of 58 in our embassies in these four neighbouring countries. Besides, more Russian-speaking officials from other Indian missions were deployed to our Embassy in Kyiv. In total, 90 flights were operated under this exercise to bring Indians back. Out of this, 76 flights were of civilian/commercial airlines like Air India, Air India Express, Air Asia India, Spicejet, Indigo, and GoAir. In addition, four Globemester-17 cargo planes were also pressed into service which operated 14 flights after they were refitted as passenger planes. Out of about 22,000 students stranded in war-torn Ukraine, around 4,000 had already left the country before the war broke out by regular commercial flights. The remaining about 18,000 were brought under Operation Ganga which also included 147 students from other countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, etc. Not only human beings were brought back to India but in some cases, students were able to bring along their pet dogs and cats also.

The last and the toughest part of the operation was to rescue the students stranded in Sumy, a city to the north of Kyiv. The challenge was to take out around 7,00 students out of the city amid the intense shelling. However, with great precaution and coordination, they could be brought to the border town of Rzeszow in Poland in 11 buses on March 10 and back to India the next day.

In hindsight, it was not only one of the most challenging but also the most successful operations. There was only one casualty- an Indian student from Karnataka, who went out of his bunker to buy some food, unfortunately, got into the crossfire and lost his life. Elsewhere in Ukraine, another student was injured but fortunately, he is back and recovering from his wounds.

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Some students and their parents have also criticized the efficiency of the whole operation. But we must not forget two points- one, it is human nature to generalize personal experiences, and two, in any operation of such gigantic proportion, some minor lapses are bound to occur despite the utmost caution to avoid the same. Lastly, this operation showed the prestige that India generally commands in the world as even some students from our neighbouring countries also could pass off as Indians as they were carrying the Tricolour!

(The author is a retired Diplomat)