The foreign ministry said on Tuesday afternoon that the government summoned Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors to reiterate India’s call for “urgent safe transit for Indian nationals still in Kharkiv and other conflict-affected areas”. The statement came amid news that an Indian student had been killed in shelling in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, the scene of intense fighting.

“(The) foreign minister called on the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors to renew their call for emergency safe transit for Indian nationals still in Kharkiv and other conflict zone cities. Our ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine will take similar action,” Bach said in a statement. wrote on Twitter.

A few minutes ago, he wrote: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that an Indian student was killed in the shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The ministry is in contact with his family. Our deepest condolences to the family. ”

Ahead of the official confirmation, several Indian students in Kharkiv posted on social media that a student believed to be from Karnataka had died on his way to pick up food. Several videos posted on social media showed shelling in various places in Kharkiv, including an area near the Kharkiv National Medical University (KNMU), where many Indian students live.

There are different estimates of the total number of Indian students in Kharkiv, ranging from 2,000 to 4,000. Since Ukrainian airspace was closed on February 24, Indians and other foreigners have been unable to leave most cities in eastern Ukraine, including Kharkiv and Sumy. Rail and public transport in the eastern region were also disrupted.

Amid reports of a 40-mile (64-kilometer) Russian military convoy moving towards the area, the Indian embassy in Kyiv advised all Indians in the Ukrainian capital early on Tuesday to leave the city “urgently” by train or otherwise .

“All Indian nationals, including students, are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably there is a train or other means available,” the embassy said in a brief note posted on Twitter.

Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies as the Russian military convoy entered the Ukrainian capital showed it stretched nearly 40 miles (64 kilometers). Images on Monday showed the convoy appeared to include hundreds of armoured vehicles, tanks, towed artillery and logistics vehicles.

Complete News Source : Hindustan times