Russia to investigate death of Indian student in Kharkiv: Envoy

According to Naveen's friends, he had gone out to buy some groceries and was on a line at a shop when he was hit

Moscow’s newly-appointed envoy to New Delhi, Denis Alipov, on Wednesday said that the Russian Government would investigate the death of Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, a 21-year-old medical student, who was originally a resident of Karnataka in India, but was killed in shelling in war zone of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine.

“Russia will do everything it possibly can to ensure the safety of the citizens of India in the areas of intense conflict...and a proper investigation of this unfortunate incident (death of Naveen),” Alipov told journalists in New Delhi. He also said that Russia was working to put in place “humanitarian corridors” for the safe evacuation of citizens of India stranded in the war zones in eastern Ukraine.

“We are working intensely on creating the corridor and securing safe passage for Indians stuck in various conflict zones in Ukraine,” said Russia's top diplomat in India. He said Moscow was working on ways and means to provide safe passage to the citizens of India for their secure passage from the conflict zones in Ukraine through the territory of Russia.

Also Read | Ukraine condoles death of Indian student in Kharkiv

Naveen Shekharappa Gyandagoudar, originally a resident of Haveri in Karnataka, was killed in Kharkiv early on Tuesday. The 21-year-old was a fourth-year student of the Kharkiv National Medical University in Kharkiv. He went out to buy food and was in a queue in front of a grocery store, when he was killed, apparently as a result of shelling by Russian Armed Forces targeting an administrative building in the city.

Hundreds of Indians, mostly students, have been stranded in Kharkiv, Sumy and other cities in eastern Ukraine. They have been spending days and nights in basements, makeshift bomb shelters and bunkers ever since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of military operations into Ukraine on February 24 last.

“I want to express our sympathy to the family of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar and to the entire Indian nation over the tragedy,” Alipov said on Wednesday.

Alipov has not yet formally taken over as Russia’s ambassador to India. Soon after the news of Naveen’s death in Kharkiv reached New Delhi, he and Moscow’s acting envoy to New Delhi, Roman Babushkin, were summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs, where Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla once again told him that Russia should ensure urgent safe passage for the citizens of India stranded in Kharkiv, Sumy and other places in eastern Ukraine.

The Embassy of India in Moscow already stationed a team of officials in Belgorod, a town close to Russia’s border with Ukraine. It was tasked to make arrangements for the evacuation of citizens of India from Kharkiv and other places in war-torn eastern Ukraine through Russia.

The evacuation route, however, could not be opened so far due to intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in and around Kharkiv.

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