New Delhi: India In the midst of Russia's ongoing military operations against Ukraine, the Government of India will arrange evacuation flights for Indian nationals in the country, according to sources on Friday. The government will bear the entire cost of the evacuation.

"Two flights to Bucharest today and one to Budapest tomorrow are scheduled to be operated as GOI chartered flights," according to government sources. On February 24-25, and 26, Air India operatea three flights between India and Ukraine. The flights will depart from Boryspil International Airport, and reservations can be made through Air India's booking offices, website, call centres, and authorised travel agents.

Earlier on Thursday, with Ukraine closing its airspace after Russia launched a military operation against it, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dispatched teams to Ukraine's land borders in Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Romania to assist with the evacuation of Indian nationals.

India emphasised the importance of all parties exercising restraint and stepping up diplomatic efforts to reach a mutually agreeable solution. A number of explosions were heard in Ukraine's capital city on Friday as the Russian special military operation entered its second day, according to local media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent entities on Monday. Later, Putin directed special military operations in the Donbas region "to protect" the people. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and the European Union, have condemned Russia's military operations and sanctioned Moscow.

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