An Indian student was killed on Tuesday in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city that is being pounded by heavy shelling by Russian forces.
The identity of the student is as yet unknown, but is said to be one Mr. Naveen Kumar, a 4th year MBBS student hailing from Karnataka, according to an unconfirmed Twitter report.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called on ambassadors in both Russia and Ukraine for the urgent and safe passage for its nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. ‘Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine,’ Bagchi tweeted.
‘Advisory to Indians in Kyiv- All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available (sic),’ a statement from the embassy read.
The Indian government has undertaken a massive mission to bring back its stranded citizens from war-torn Ukraine via neighbouring countries and has sent its senior ministers to assist the evacuation process.
The Indian Air Force ‘may be slated’ to join evacuation efforts under Operation Ganga, as per PM Modi’s directives, as special flights of Air India are being run to bring back the citizens. Currently 8000 nationals have returned, with 16000 still stranded in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian presidential advisor said Russian troops are trying to lay siege to the capital Kyiv and Kharkiv. There were reports of a 40-mile convoy of tanks and other vehicles threatening the capital tactics Ukraines embattled president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said were designed to force him into concessions in Europes largest ground war in generations.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, near the Russian border, saw frequent explosions in one of its residential areas, according to an AP report.
The Russian military has denied targeting residential areas despite abundant evidence documented by on-ground media to the contrary. Homes, schools and hospitals are all being targetted indiscriminately as Putin steps up the offensive.
Update: The #Indianstudent killed in #Kharkiv shelling has been identified as #NaveenShekharappa Gyanagoudar, 20, from Karnataka. He was a fourth-year medical student at the Kharkiv National Medical University in Kharkiv.
‘Naveen was shot dead around 10.30 am Ukrainian time today. He was standing in the queue before a grocery shop when the Russian army fired at people. We have no information about his body. None of us was able to visit the hospital, probably where it is kept now,’ said Mr.Sreedharan, his hostel mate.