India asks its citizens in Ukraine to 'leave at the earliest' as war escalates

As the war in Ukraine escalates, India has issued an advisory asking all its citizens to avoid travelling to the country.

"In view of the deteriorating security situation and recent escalation of hostilities across Ukraine, Indian nationals are advised against travelling to Ukraine," the Indian embassy in Ukraine said in a statement.

"The Indian citizens, including students, currently in Ukraine are advised to leave Ukraine at the earliest by available means," it added.

The alert came on a day Russian President Vladimir Putin imposed martial law on four Moscow-controlled regions of Ukraine. He also gave all regional governors in Russia emergency powers that open the door for sweeping new restrictions throughout the country.

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Putin didn't immediately spell out the steps that would be taken under martial law, but said his order was effective starting Thursday. His decree gave law enforcement agencies three days to submit specific proposals and orders the creation of territorial defense forces in the annexed regions.

The upper house of Russia's parliament quickly endorsed Putin's decision to impose martial law in the annexed Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. The approved legislation indicated the declaration may involve restrictions on travel and public gatherings, tighter censorship and broader authority for law enforcement agencies.