NEW DELHI, 26 February 2022, (TON): Four Air India flights, three to the Romanian capital of Bucharest and one to Hungary’s capital Budapest, were to operate over Friday and Saturday to fly back Indians who are being taken there by road from Ukraine.

The move to evacuate Indians through the western borders of Ukraine follows assurances from President Putin to PM Modi that Russian forces have been instructed to ensure their safety.

The timing will be decided as the evacuees reach the eastern European capitals.

PM Modi will review the situation in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security on Saturday, sources said.

These flights, chartered by the government which is bearing the cost, mark the resumption of evacuation of nearly 16,000 Indians stranded in war-torn Ukraine. By Friday evening, 200 Indians from western Ukraine had been taken to Romania through Suceava border crossing.

The arrival of Indians in Romania marked a breakthrough for government's efforts to bring Indian nationals safely after the Russian assault which had resulted in the closure of the airspace and destruction of runways.