An Indian student lost his life in shelling in Ukraine this morning, the foreign ministry said. Naveen Shekharappa, a final year medical student from Karnataka's Haveri, died when Russian soldiers blew up a government building on Tuesday.
"With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family," tweeted the External Affairs Ministry.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called in the ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to “reiterate India's demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals”. It is imperative that Russia and Ukraine respond to the need for safe passage urgently, said sources.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, videos showed extensive damage from the Russian military assault. One video showed the city's largest government building blown up.
Naveen Shekharappa was standing outside a grocery store when he was hit.
This morning, the Indian Embassy advised all citizens, including students, to leave Ukraine capital Kyiv "urgently today, by trains or any other means available".
Several Indian students remain stuck in eastern parts of Ukraine, which is most affected by the Russian military offensive, and they are finding it difficult to travel by road to reach the western borders. Students have also been walking to the borders in sub-zero conditions, hoping to cross over and take a flight home.
Yesterday, the embassy had asked students to go to the railway station in Kyiv, where special evacuation trains have been arranged by Ukraine to take people to the western region.
Many students complained that they were not allowed to board the trains or they were mistreated by officials.
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on Thursday after months of tension over the former Soviet republic's proximity to NATO.