Ukraine crisis looms: Indians asked to leave temporarily and other top developments

India on Tuesday advised its citizens, especially students, to leave Ukraine temporarily amid ‘uncertainties’. It also asked citizens to avoid non-essential travel to and within the country. There are about 20,000 Indian students in Ukraine.

A statement from the Embassy of India in Kyiv read Indian nationals are requested to keep the Embassy informed about the status of their presence in Ukraine to enable the Embassy to reach them where required.

Ukrainian soldiers in the government-controlled area of Luhansk region said Monday they have seen an increased number of troops and the movement of military equipment near the line of contact. Soldiers said shelling from the separatist-controlled side has increased over the past three days.

Members of the Ukrainian National Guard's Special Forces Unit "Azov" staged a military training for Mariupol residents to teach them self-defence in case of an attack from Russia. The group trained residents to assemble and dissemble a gun, to load ammunition and aim at targets as Russia amassed over 100,000 troops at the border with Ukraine.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Monday said Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine "almost immediately", and urged British citizens to leave Ukraine while they still could.

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The White House said Monday the "path for diplomacy" with Russia remains open, but warned anew, "we are in the window

when an invasion could begin at any time."

White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said new Russian forces have been arriving at the border with Ukraine "every day," adding, "it remains unclear" which path Russian President Vladimir Putin will take.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and stressed to them "there is no alternative to diplomacy."