Russia to probe death of Indian student killed in Kharkiv shelling: Ambassador designate

Russia will probe the death of Naveen Shekharappa killed in Kharkiv shelling and is working to create human corridors for the stranded Indian nationals in the Eastern Ukraine, Russian Ambassador-designate to India Denis Alipov said on Wednesday.

Alipov told ET that Russia is in talks with the Indian authorities for safe passage of Indians stranded in Eastern Ukraine via Russia and a human corridor is being created for the purpose. "… the corridor will be in place as soon as possible...Hopefully, it will happen in the very near future and Indian nationals will be safe and sound on Russian territory."

He informed that he met Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla for the purpose. Alipov met Shringla twice since Sunday following his arrival to India last week.


Alipov also informed that the Russian side will probe the death of the Indian student in Kharkiv killed in shelling. he expressed sympathy for the family of Naveen Shekharappa Gyandagoudar and the ‘entire Indian nation’.

In his first-ever press meet since reaching Delhi, Alipov said, "We are working intensely on creating the corridors a securing, a safe passage for the Indian nationals stuck in those areas so that they can travel and be taken safely to areas... to Russian territories".

Alipov explained, "We are in touch with the Indian authorities as regards the citizens of India currently in Kharkiv, Sumy in those areas in the north-east of Ukraine."

"We are strategic allies with India. We are grateful to India for its balanced position displayed at the UN. India understands the depth of this crisis," the senior diplomat said when asked about India’s position on the current crisis. India and Russia are coordinating on the issue, he added.

"We do coordinate our positions. At the UN we inform India about our approach. We do the utmost and everything possible to keep India unto date as regards what is happening.”

It is extremely rare for an Ambassador designate to conduct a presser and the occasion showed significance of the ongoing crisis.