Operation Ganga is an ongoing operation by the Government of India to provide humanitarian assistance amidst the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine to Indian citizens who have crossed over to neighboring countries. This then involves transport assistance from the neighboring countries of Romania, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Slovakia to reach India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 26 February 2022 during which among pressing issues, the safety of students was brought up. The first evacuation flight from Bucharest reached New Delhi with 249 nationals at around 2.55am Indian Standard Time (IST) on 27 February. Four union ministers were sent the next day to the neighboring countries to assist in prioritising coordination with local authorities. The Indian Air Force and multiple private airlines (Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express and SpiceJet) provided logistical support.
India had about 20,000 Indian nationals in Ukraine, out of which just over 18,000 were students. By 3 March, 6400 Indians had been flown to India. About 18,000 had crossed the border of Ukraine. However emergency evacuation has been requested by students still in Ukraine, such as in Pisochyn. Following a “Leave Kharkiv Immediately” embassy advisory on 2 March, the Indian Ministry of Defence released a survival advisory for those still in Ukraine and specifically Kharkiv.
India, as a humanitarian signal, has sent relief to Ukraine including medicines and essentials. The Indian government has stated that nationals from neighbouring and developing countries in Ukraine would be provided assistance if sought.
Background
Ukraine government statistics from its Ministry of Education and Science place just over 18,000 Indian “students” in the country. Hotspots for Indian students in Ukraine included Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Bogomolets National Medical University and Kyiv Medical University of UAFM. In an affidavit submitted by Indian government in Kerala High Court on 2 March 2022 the government estimated 20,000 Indian nationals in Ukraine.
Operation
Military situation as of 3 March 2022 (For further information see 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine)
The Indian government through its Embassy in Kyiv issued advisories before the conflict through its communication channels. It had mixed impact. Approximately 4000 Indian nationals left Ukraine before the closure of airspace over the affected areas on the morning of 24 February. The first Indian government advisory was issued on 15 February which was followed by stronger advisories. As it was becoming increasingly difficult to provide assistance to the growing numbers the Embassy, on 26 February, advised students not to go to border posts without prior coordination from the embassy. On 28 February, the MEA advised all Indian citizens in Ukraine to move to and seek shelter in the towns of western Ukraine and to go to the border only after coordinating with Indian authorities. The MEA set up multiple information dissemination and communication channels— a round the clock helpline, email, website, fax, other phone numbers— and later on a twitter handle. The Indian Community Welfare Fund, for Indian citizens in other countries in distress, is activated. A survival advisory on 3 March, put together by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, targeted those still in Ukraine and specifically Kharkiv.
An Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in Poland as part of Operation Ganga
The first flight took place on 26 February from Bucharest in Romania and reached Delhi on 27 February at 2:55 am Indian Standard Time (IST). By 27 February 2022 (Day 3), 469 students were evacuated. By 1 March 2012 national were back. Airlines assisting the evacuation include the private carriers Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express and SpiceJet. The Indian Air Force provided additional support; multiple C-17 Globemasters have been utilized, along with Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft. The evacuations were coordinated with COVID-19 pandemic protocols at airports.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dispatched special envoys to assist coordination efforts. The special envoys were high level Union Ministers– ministers of civil aviation, transport, law, and petroleum and natural gas. Jyotiraditya Scindia would assist coordination from Romania and Moldova, Kiren Rijiju from Slovakia, Hardeep Singh Puri from Hungary and General V. K. Singh from Poland. By 28 February the Prime Minister had chaired at least three high level meetings related to the operation with the external affairs minister and secretary and the national security advisor. The PM (head of government) briefed the President of India Ram Nath Kovind (head of state) on the situation on 1 March. On 2 March India, including through its National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) stocks, sent a batch of humanitarian relief in form of medical aid, tents, blankets, sleeping mats and solar lamps.
Situation
An Indian government affidavit on 2 March 2022 stated that out of the estimated 20,000 Indian nationals, 12,000 had crossed the border of Ukraine.
Ukraine
Educational hostels and bunkers in buildings in Ukraine provide shelter for those unable to travel to evacuation points. Students faced problems withdrawing and exchanging money. Indian students were less prepared for how to react to the escalating military situation as compared to the Ukrainians (Russo-Ukrainian War).
Kyiv
On 1 March the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that all Indians have left the capital of Kyiv.
Kharkiv
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine, in all caps, on 2 March tweeted “Leave Kharkiv Immediately” and said that, using any means possible, reach nearby locations of Pisochyn, Babai and Bezlyudivka. These are 11, 12 and 16 kilometers walking distance. The deadline given was “by 6 pm local time (9.30 pm IST)”.
A defence advisory on 3 March suggested multiple survival guidelines.
Borders
Some Indian students reported through social media that they faced trouble and others beaten up, while attempting to cross the Ukraine-Poland border. Poland’s Ambassador to India clarified that it was a humanitarian situation and Poland would ease border crossings and all nationalities would be provided food and shelter.
Attempts were made, including in an Indian embassy advisory, to get Indian students to use the tricolour, the flag of India, to provide identification.
Bordering countries
Evacuation flights have taken off from locations including Budapest, Rzeszow in Poland, Kosice in Slovakia.
Russia
Russian passage has been sought on the eastern front of Ukraine to evacuate through Russia.
Some Indian students in Russia have also started preparing for eventualities even though Russia is showing signs of normalcy. The blow of the COVID-19 pandemic to education since 2020 threatens to be worsened for the students by the ongoing situation.
India
Students shared narratives. The Russian Embassy in India in the capital saw small scale protests on 25 February by some of the families whose relatives haven’t been able to get themselves out. Families and some senior government leaders greeted their children at the airports.
Routes
2005 derivative UN map. Ukraine is 784.93 miles (1,263.22 km) wide and 346.4 miles (557.5 km) long.
From Ukraine land routes to the bordering states have been used. From the bordering countries, the capitals, there are flights to India, the cities of Delhi and Mumbai. From Moldova there are land routes to Romania.
Casualties
A fourth year medical student from the Indian state of Karnataka named Naveen S.G. was India’s first casualty in the war.