Digital Desk: Indian students who have gone to Ukraine for studies are now left concerned over the potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. Things have drastically deteriorated as tensions between Ukraine and Russia have risen.
Currently, Indian student Firoz Ahmed in Ukraine is concerned that his plan of becoming a doctor would be scrambled, mainly because his university has not laid out any accounts for students to complete their education in the event of a Russian invasion.
The 23-year-old, who is in the fourth year of a six-year course at the Odesa National Medical University, is one of nearly 20,000 Indian students in Ukraine, many of whom have reached Indian authorities, as well as local government and college officials in Ukraine because they are concerned regarding incurring high expenses and having their studies disrupted if they must return to India.
In a phone interview with Al Jazeera, Ahmed said, "The circumstances have been uneasy for more than a week now, and what we are concerned regarding is the lack of definite solutions."
For instance, scholars have no notion whether their courses will resume online if they return to India or be deemed absent. He even noted the extra pressure of the expense of a round-trip flight to India and back, which is equivalent to half of a semester's tuition.
According to him, the students have reached the Indian embassy, which has pledged that they are in touch with Ukraine's ministry of education to find a resolution. Though, at least some of the children have picked safety and returned for the time being.
Ahmed, who decided to study in Ukraine because the prices were almost a quarter of what he would have spent at a private medical establishment in India, reveals that the decision was not clear because "money is a concern."
The Indian embassy in Kyiv issued an advise on February 15 amid growing Ukraine-Russia tensions, stating that due to "uncertainties" in Ukraine, Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students whose presence is not needed, "may think leaving temporarily."
"Indian citizens are even advised to sidestep all non-essential travels to and within Ukraine," communicated to the caution, which also asked that they maintain the Indian embassy updated on their status.
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