'Despite All The News, I'm Still Studying in Ukraine and Its Fine, as of Now'

Mohammed Sohailuddin, a student at Dnipropetrovsk State Medical University in Ukraine. 

Image altered by The Quint/Deeksha Malhotra

I am Mohammed Sohailuddin from Hyderabad, a medical student at the Dnipropetrovsk State Medical University in Ukraine. I've been studying here for the last three years. I came here in November 2018.

In the past few months, there has been some tension between Russia and it's neighbouring country Ukraine. With troops from both the countries being massed near its borders, there is a fear that Russia might invade Ukraine. This has caused a lot of political unrest in both the countries.

The current situation here in Ukraine is fine but a few days ago some people heard some explosive sound near the centre of the city. After that, public gatherings and public places were closed for a few hours.

Students at the University.

Photo courtesy: Mohammed Sohailuddin

The Indian embassy recently sent out a form to all the Indian students residing in Ukraine and asked all of us to fill it. It consists of some personal and general information about the students such at what college are they currently studying in? What year are they in? What state in India are they from?

Apart from this form, we haven't heard much from the Indian embassy.

Dnipropetrovsk State Medical University in Ukraine. 

Photo courtesy: Mohammed Sohailuddin

Family Worried Back Home

All the Indian students here in Ukraine are worried as the situation might mess up their studies and lives here.

Our parents and family members back home in India are extremely worried about us. They call us every day, every time they hear or watch anything about Ukraine in the news to see if we're doing fine.

Practical classes at the University.

Photo courtesy: Mohammed Sohailuddin

Currently, we have offline classes and we're supposed to go to college everyday as the number of COVID cases in Dnipropetrovsk is not much.

No notice has come from our university as of now about the current political situation. But the consultancy of Indian students here has advised us to avoid going out as much as possible unless it's important.

The only companion for us in a foreign country is the Indian embassy so we are just waiting for their decision or response on the situation.

(All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint inquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)