Stranded Indians in Ukraine could return via Qatar: Center

New Delhi: The Union government said on Thursday that Indian nationals marooned in Ukraine could return home via Qatar, while experts in the aviation industry say that civilian flights will restart from Ukraine only after the airspace is opened, PTI reported.

The Indian embassy in Hungary informed that a team had been sent to the border post of Zohanyi to facilitate the exit of Indians from Ukraine. The embassy said that it is working with the Hungarian government to help Indians in Ukraine to enter the country.

However, in closed airspace, it is not clear how those stranded are supposed to travel to Qatar and fly to India.

The Ukraine authorities had issued a NOTAM or notice to airmen on Thursday morning saying that civilian flights cannot be operated since there is a potential hazard for civil aviation.

Meanwhile, Indian Embassy in Qatar said on Twitter that the Indian government's Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed passengers to travel to India via Qatar through a bilateral air bubble arrangement.

PTI reports that there are 20,000 Indians, the majority are students, who are stranded in Ukraine. However, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, told ANI that there are 24,000 students from India, whereas 2,300 are from Kerala who is stuck in Ukraine.

Ukraine has informed that some of its military command centres have been hit by Russian missiles. Authorities informed the death of 18 people in the Odessa region on Thursday. A minimum of six people were killed in the Brovary town in Ukraine's capital, Reuters reported. Black smoke was reportedly seen rising from Ukraine's defence ministry intelligence building in Kyiv on Thursday, but the structure stays intact. Squads in uniform were seen throwing bags into a fire near the building.