NEW DELHI, 21 February 2022, (TON): India has asked its citizens including students who are living in Ukraine to return if their stay in the east European nation is not deemed essential.

Family members of Indian embassy staff in Ukraine will also be sent home, sources have told media.

In a second advisory, the Indian embassy in Ukraine said Indian citizens should look for any available commercial or charter flight to get out of the country amid tensions over a possible invasion by Russia.

The earlier advisory asked students to leave Ukraine as soon as possible.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine tweeted "in view of the continued high levels of tensions and uncertainties with respect to the situation in Ukraine, all Indian nationals whose stay is not deemed essential and all Indian students, are advised to leave Ukraine temporarily.”

The India embassy said "indian students are advised to also get in touch with respective student contractors for updates on charter flights, and also continue to follow embassy Facebook, website and Twitter for any update.”