Chennai: With more than 5,000 from Tamilnadu, most of them students in professional courses are now stranded in Ukraine, their parents and family members living here are a worried lot.

‘We have been very much disturbed ever since Russia started its attack. I request the Union and the State governments to immediately do something to bring our wards back from Ukraine,’ said a parent from a Chennai suburb, whose son is studying medicine there.

While the Union government said safety of Indians in Ukraine is its topmost priority and is exploring ways to bring them back, the Tamilnadu government has set up a helpline for the benefit of Tamils stranded in Ukraine.

Those in need of assistance can reach the State helpline at 1070, and the help desk, specially for Tamils in Ukraine, at +91 9289516716 or ukrainetamils@gmail.com.

Chief Minister M K Stalin has urged the Union government to take urgent steps to bring back Tamils stranded in Ukraine.

‘About 5,000 students from Tamilnadu, mostly in professional courses and other emigrants from Tamilnadu are now stranded in Ukraine. We have been receiving hundreds of distress calls from the family members of the students studying in Ukraine requesting their urgent evacuation,’ the Chief Minister said in his letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

Considering the high number of Tamils in Ukraine, it is requested that a Nodal Officer may be nominated for coordination with the government of Tamilnadu, Stalin said.

‘I request the government of India to take up this issue with the authorities there for evacuating them out of Ukraine immediately. I also request the government of India to arrange for Special Mission Flights like Vande Bharath Mission to evacuate them from various parts of Ukraine,’ he added.

Stalin said the State government has opened 24×7 help desks and a State Nodal Officer has also been appointed to facilitate the evacuation of stranded Tamils in Ukraine to coordinate with the government of India, their families, and district administration.