Kolkata's elderly couple shares ordeal of their son stuck in war-hit Ukraine

In an interaction with IBNS, Sujit and Pratiba Swarnakar shared their constant tension as they kept their eyes on television screens for updates endlessly but with hope to see their son Pushpak returning safely to his country. Pushpak is a final year medical student in Ukraine.

Pushpak is a final year medical student in Ukraine.

Sujit first came to know about the crisis from television news channels following which he kept in touch with his son constantly.

"We are in constant touch with our son. We are very anxious about our only son, Pushpak," said Sujit Swarnakar and added, "Also we are anxious about all who are stuck in Ukraine."

Sharing a recent update from Pushpak, Sujit tells us that around 50 students including his son are likely to be taken to Romania from where the Indian government will bring them back as all airports in Ukraine are presently non-functional.

Pushpak's parents | Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

In a fresh advisory, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Saturday urged Indian nationals, especially students, not to move to the border posts for evacuation without prior coordination with MEA officials.

It said the Embassy is “finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoints without prior Intimation”.

The advisory read, "All Indian citizens in Ukraine are advised not to move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kyiv."

On Friday, several Indian students and their families reached out to the Indian authorities posting videos on social media of their predicament, as they were stuck in underground bomb bunkers or subway stations with water and food running out.

(With Inputs from Avishek Mitra/IBNS)