'Keep White Flag, Melt Snow To Make Water': Govt's Dos And Don'ts For Indians Stuck In Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russia has started shelling several key sites in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and in the country's second-largest city, Kharkiv, in recent days.

New Delhi: With thousands of Indian nationals yet to be evacuated from Ukraine, especially Kharkiv, the Ministry of Defence on Thursday issued a list of dos and don'ts for students stuck in the war-torn country.

In a statement, the Defence Ministry said each group of Indians should keep a white flag or white cloth for waving.

"Conserve and share food and water. You should stay hydrated, avoid full meals and eat smaller portions to extend rations," it said.

Russia has started shelling several key sites in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and in the country's second-largest city, Kharkiv, in recent days.

The ministry said aerial raids, attacks by aircraft or drones, missile attacks, artillery shelling, gunfire by small arms, grenade explosions are few of the "potentially dangerous or difficult situations" that are "to be expected" in Kharkiv.

Use of Molotov cocktails, building collapse, internet jamming, lack of electricity or food or water, exposure to freezing temperature, psychological trauma, injuries, lack of transportation and face-to-face situation with armed fighters or military personnel may also be encountered.

Indians stuck in Kharkiv must keep a small kit of essential items on person or at hand round the clock, the guidelines stated. "If you find yourself in an open area or field, melt snow to make water," the ministry further said.

"If available, keep one large garbage bag per person to use as ground matting or cover against exposure to rain or cold or storm or during forced march or evacuation," it suggested.

The statement further asked the stranded Indians to organise themselves in small groups or squads of 10 and within that "organise buddy/pair system/nominate a coordinator and a deputy coordinator".

"Your presence and whereabouts must always be known to your buddy or small group coordinator," the ministry noted.

Under 'Operation Ganga', thousands of Indians stranded in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion have been brought back to India on evacuation flights.

READ | 3,000 Indians Brought Back In 24 Hours, 18 More Flights Scheduled, Says MEA

Of the 20,000 Indians who were stranded in war-torn Ukraine, more than 6,400 have been brought back to the country so far.

As Ukraine has shut its airspace due to the conflict with Russia, India is evacuating its nationals by moving them via land routes to the east European country's neighbours -- Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia -- and then flying them out from there.