Skip to main content

Indian students choose to remain in the conflict-torn Ukraine despite MEA advisories: “Do we have a choice?”

Digital Marketer | Content Specialist & Researcher | Content Marketing @FormsADDA @Formfees- Empowering individuals to unlock the potential of their businesses through the limitless opportunities... read more
Indian students choose to remain in the conflict-torn Ukraine despite MEA advisories Do we have a choice
Indian students choose to remain in the conflict-torn Ukraine despite MEA advisories Do we have a choice

Nearly 20,000 Indian students who were studying medicine in Ukraine: compelled to return home in March of last year, or roughly seven months ago. An estimated 1,000 conflict refugees have returned to Ukraine since September to finish their schooling.

A recent escalation in the conflict with Russia, which prompted India to issue two consecutive advisories urging its citizens to leave the country immediately, has added to the uncertainty among students nearly two months after Indian students began returning to the war-torn Ukraine to resume their classes.

Despite the recent tension, the young people—mostly medical students—have chosen to remain in the conflict torn Ukraine despite MEA advisors for the time being, with many of them claiming they have no other choice. Some claim they will wait and observe before deciding what to do next. While some of the students are moving temporarily to Hungary and Slovakia, who have been giving 30-day visas across the border, the others are gradually growing accustomed to the daily alarms and the subterranean shelters.

An Lviv National Medical University fifth-year student revealed that he had temporarily moved in with friends in Hungary, where he has been taking online classes. ‘Hardly any student is considering going back to India right moment. We just want to finish earning our degrees in Ukraine after everything we have been through over the past seven months. We only returned a month ago after persuading our parents and paying at least a lakh; we are unable to return at this time’.

India requested its nationals to “leave Ukraine by all means” in its second alert in a week on Tuesday. The earlier caution, released on October 19, had advised New Delhi’s inhabitants not to visit Ukraine and requested that students who had already visited leave because of the “deteriorating security situation.”

Nearly 20,000 Indian students who were studying medicine in Ukraine were compelled to return home in March of last year, or roughly seven months ago. An estimated 1,000 conflict refugees have returned to Ukraine since September to finish their schooling.

The most recent round of warnings coincides with escalating hostilities, with airstrikes and missile attacks now focusing on the relatively safe western Ukrainian cities of Lviv and Ternopil, and with Russia’s assertion that it suspects Ukraine of preparing to use a so-called “dirty bomb” laced with nuclear material. Many believe the worst is still to come because Western nations have rejected Russia’s accusation as a justification for escalating the eight-month war.

But as the fifth-year Lviv student said, for Indians in Ukraine, the situation doesn’t offer them much of a choice. “We are not getting admission in India and countries such as Hungary, Poland, Georgia and Russia, where we are being offered transfers, are far more expensive than Ukraine. We cannot afford to pay our fee again. The government of India is well aware that we do not have any other option but to stay back in Ukraine… And even if we were to return to India, would our parents let us go back to Ukraine? Not at all. So what option do we have? Most of the students who have decided to stay back in Ukraine are in their fifth or sixth year. It’s not easy to start from scratch,” he said. Still, Indian students choose to remain in the conflict-torn Ukraine despite MEA advisories.

Vinnytsya National Medical University fourth-year student Anurag Krishna claimed he has no plans to go back to India. “We must wait and observe for a while. If things get worse, I might move to a safe spot. But right now, we’re attending class and putting all of our effort into finishing our degrees. The Indian government is fully aware of our lack of other options.

Ivano-Frankivsk Medical University’s fourth-year student from Bihar, Kritee Suman, asked, ‘What choice do we have? Return to India before visiting Ukraine once more? It’s simpler to say than to do. If the situation in Ivano (western Ukraine) worsens, we might possibly relocate to Hungary or Romania, but for the time being, everything is well here’.

Onkar Dhale, 19, a second-year student at the Bukovinian State Medical University in Ukraine, will depart his Ahmednagar neighbourhood home on November 4 to attend medical school. He intends to take a flight from Mumbai to Istanbul, then fly from there to Moldova before taking a bus or a taxi to Chernivtski, Ukraine.

Despite being aware of the Centre’s recommendation, Dhale claims he won’t alter his plans, ‘We have no other choice because of the government. If we don’t finish 54 months of offline classes, they won’t admit us into the colleges here and won’t recognise our degrees. My parents have already invested several lakhs. From our batch, thirteen pupils have already arrived there’, he remarked.

Students claim that despite the MEA advisories, many of their pals have been going back to Ukraine. On Tuesday, the day following Diwali, twelve students came in Kviv. After the celebrations are complete, more are anticipated to arrive, one student stated.

Contest Video

Enquiry Form

Advertisement

Tags

Recent News

TANCET 2024 Result Today: Steps to Download
TANCET 2024 Result…
Payal Kumari 28/03/2024
KCET 2024 Admit Card Released by April 5: Check Important Dates & Download Admit Card
KCET 2024 Admit…
Nandini Pandit 27/03/2024
CUET UG 2024 Registration Last Date: NTA Application Deadline Extended
CUET UG 2024…
Alisha Kumari 27/03/2024
Check the Latest Details on AP LAWCET, PGLCET 2024:  Application Begin On March 26
Check the Latest…
Payal Kumari 23/03/2024

Recent Article

Testimonials