Defence Ministry issues advisory for Indian nationals stranded in eastern Ukraine

Defence Ministry has issued an advisory for Indian nationals in Ukraine's Kharkiv and asked them to remain mentally strong and compile and share information with fellow Indians. It asked Indian nationals to organize in small groups and squads of ten Indian students and within that, organize buddy or pair system.

Their presence and whereabouts must always be known to their buddy or small group coordinator. The advisory asked Indian students to keep ready a small kit of essential items on persons or at hand round the clock and keep a white flag or white cloth for waving.

They must avoid stepping out from



their bunkers, basements or shelter at all times. They should not go to downtown or crowded areas and join local protestors or militia. They must refrain from commenting on social media and not take pictures or selfies with military vehicles, troops, soldiers, check posts and militia. Defence Ministry has asked people to not try and film live combat situations or light fires in enclosed spaces.

Defence Ministry said in its advisory that potentially dangerous or difficult situations to be expected include aerial raids, attacks by aircraft, missile attacks, artillery shelling and gunfire.