Russia-Ukraine tensions have been tightening since the beginning of the year over Ukraine's membership in NATO as well as US support for the smaller Russian neighbor of the former Soviet Union. These tensions eventually reached a boiling point on Monday, when Ukraine announced that Russia -who had been amassing the military at the Ukrainian border for weeks- will likely invade within 48 hours. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed that Russia does not want a war in Europe, he has also stressed time and time again that his security concerns be taken seriously.
Maldivians currently residing in Ukraine are mostly students attempting to get their Medical degree. The statement clarified, "We have been very worried from the beginning because in case of invasion the airspace would be closed and the borders might be closed as well. We are the closest main city to the Russian border. Any invasion would affect us first".
The students referred to the Foreign Ministry's communications director Miuvaan Mohamed's comments to Vaguthu online news source on 13 February stating that the Ministry is closely monitoring the status of Maldivians in Ukraine. According to those currently stranded, there have been little concern expressed from the government with regards to even checking up on the current status of these Maldivian citizens. 
On Tuesday, former President and current Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed tweeted on the matter in Ukraine and said, "The situation over Ukraine is very worrying. Ukrainians and Russians are some of our biggest visitors and if war breaks out, it will have all sorts of negative and unforeseen ramifications. The Government must be mindful of these possible impacts on us". While President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has yet to make a statement regarding the matter, the students in Ukraine raised concern that the government may be directing more concern towards the impact of this situation on tourism, than the lives of those stranded in Ukraine. 
The bottom line is, with the price of airline costs to get out of Ukraine skyrocketing within the past 24 hours alone, the only request of these students from the government of Maldives is that they issue an official notice to evacuate to allow the university to accommodate said students on mode education.