IAF's fleet of C-17 and IL-76 transport aircrafts on stand by for evacuating Indian citizens from Ukraine

The Indian Air Force has put its fleet of C-17 and IL-76 transport aircraft on stand by for evacuating Indian citizens from Ukraine, if required.

The Indian Air Force is geared up for any possible evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine, the defence force's spokesperson, Wing Commander Ashish Moghe said on Friday.

Speaking to India Today TV, Wg Cdr Ashish Moghe said that IAF has put a fleet of transport aircraft on stand by.

"The Indian Air Force has put its fleet of C-17 and IL-76 transport aircraft on stand by for evacuating citizens from Ukraine. The Indian Air Force is geared up for any requirements for the evacuation of our citizens from Ukraine," Ashish Moghe said.

The American C-17 Globemasters and IL-76 transport aircraft are the most capable of flying long distances with around 400 passengers. The C-17 transport aircraft were key to evacuating citizens and officials from Kabul when the Taliban captured Afghanistan last year.

20,000 Indians stuck in Ukraine

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on Thursday that there were around 20,000 Indians in Ukraine and of them, nearly 4,000 have returned to India in the last few days.

The government is making efforts to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine through its land border crossings with its neighbouring countries and they would then be brought back home, official sources have said.