Air India to operate 3 flights to Ukraine this week amid tensions; first one today

India had last week removed the cap on number of Ukraine flights under the current air bubble agreement to facilitate return of Indians from there.

A day after the Indian government removed restrictions on the number of flights to and from Ukraine under the air bubble arrangement, Air India had on February 18 announced that it will operate three Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) flights between India and Ukraine this month.

The Indian embassy in Kyiv had on Monday issued an advisory saying Ukraine International Airlines — which used to have once weekly on Kyiv-Delhi-Kyiv route.

“At present, Air Arabia, flyDubai, Qatar Airways etc are also operating their routine flights (via their hubs) to India,” it said, promising to update as more flights arranged.

Concerned over the escalating tension along the border of Ukraine-Russia border, India on Tuesday strongly emphasised in a special meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution.

Attempts to prevent the Russian invasion of Ukraine were dealt a severe blow as President Vladimir Putin signed mutual aid and friendship agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin today.

Russia also ordered its army to launch a "peacekeeping mission" into the areas.