No curbs on Ukraine flights

New Delhi: The Civil Aviation Ministry has removed the restrictions on the number of flights and seats between India and Ukraine to facilitate the easy evacuation of students and professionals stranded in crisis-hit Ukraine. An official of the ministry said Indian Airlines have been asked to increase the number of flights as there is a surge in the demand with Russia advancing towards Ukraine. India has asked its nationals in Ukraine to leave the country but there are no flights available before February 20.

India and Ukraine have a travel bubble agreement under which both countries can operate a certain number of flights per week. These travel bubble agreements were necessitated by the pandemic when international travel was suspended. But now thousands of Indians are stranded in Ukraine, the ministry has decided to do away with the cap it earlier imposed. This means airlines can operate any number of flights. Chartered flights can also be operated between India and Ukraine.

Indian students were let in the lurch after the embassy pressed the emergency button and asked said that in view of the escalating military tension between Ukraine and Russia, Indian nationals whose stay in Ukraine is not essential should consider leaving the country temporarily.