She added that studying in bunkers has become a way of life for her now. “In keeping with the University and Embassy guidelines we have a packed bag ready. The bag includes our passport, visa, residential card and other essentials. We stay in bunkers at least once a week. We have clear instructions to enter the bunker once the sirens begin,” said Dhankar. 

Apart from the 54 months of on-site learning, NMC guidelines also require the students to complete one year of internship in the same institute. Only then can they have a paid internship in India, and then be eligible to practice medicine. Vidya Sagar, 23, another Indian student studying in Lviv, told mid-day that several students had requested the NMC to ease their guidelines repeatedly, but their requests fell on deaf ears. 

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“We had made similar requests when we came back home during the COVID-19 pandemic, but to no avail. We had a tough time getting visas while returning to Ukraine and our parents are worried for us. A two-year unpaid internship is simply not affordable as many of us have taken loans to complete our education in Ukraine,” said Sagar. 

Aditi Sharma, 26, studies in Odessa, and is facing an even tougher time. “Odessa is a city which is close to the sea and we face attacks frequently. There are attacks almost every alternate night. We request the NMC to ease their strict guidelines,” she said.

779
Number of days that Russia and Ukraine have been at war