On Tuesday, 1 March 2022, a missile was struck in a regional administrative building. As soon as the missile hit the building, reports suggest that the latter burst into a flame which caused significant damage. According to the Interior Minister of Ukraine, an airstrike had hit directly in front of the government building. The second-largest city of Ukraine, Kharkiv, is witnessing an extensive level of fighting between the Russian and Ukrainian forces.
Missile attack on the Kharkiv regional administration, Sumska 64. Grad shelling at residential areas. Putin now in total war with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/eXyfA4E4YI
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 1, 2022
This mayhem led to the unfortunate demise of an Indian student in the early hours of Tuesday. The student was caught in the middle of the heavy shelling that took place in Kharkiv itself. The student was identified as 21-year-old Naveen Shekharappa, who belonged from the state of Karnataka and was a native of the Haveri district. This is the first Indian casualty in the Ukraine-Russia war. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the reports about this misfortune. The ministry has said that it will get in touch with the student’s family as soon as possible. Further, the ministry expressed its deepest condolences to the family while confirming the unfortunate incident that took place during the shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
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.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 1, 2022
We convey our deepest condolences to the family.
As the demise was being reported, the foreign secretary of India, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, “was calling the ambassadors of India to Russia and Ukraine to reiterate India’s firm demand for an urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones”. Russia and Ukraine must respond to the need for safe passage urgently. Reportedly, the Prime Minister has talked to the victim’s family and had called for the fourth meeting in three days on the agenda of the ongoing conflict. Naveen was standing in a queue outside of a grocery store when this incident took place. Amidst the firing, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that the Russian shelling on the city of Kharkiv is a “war crime”.
Edited by- Subbuthai Padma
Published by- Radhika. N
