Russia-Ukraine War Updates: Karnataka student was out to buy food when shell hit him in Kharkiv

Kyiv/New Delhi: Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, an Indian student from Karnataka, was killed in shelling in Kharkiv when he stepped out of the safety of a metro station to buy food in the war zone in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday.

The Indian government confirmed his death.

Naveen hailed from Chalageri, in Haveri district of Karnataka. He was a fourth-year student of Kharkiv Medical University and was living in Kharkiv with five friends.

His father Shekar Gowda had made a video call to Naveen at around 11.30 am. The attack took place at around 12 noon and Naveen was killed. Choking with grief, Shekar Gowda said that he had spoken with his son just this morning over the phone, and he used to call up twice or thrice every day.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai spoke to Naveen's father Sekhar Gowda, and termed it a big tragedy. He said all efforts are being made to bring Naveen's mortal remains back to India.

The CM said that the matter is being discussed with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Naveen's friends said he had been attending MBBS for four years and was on his way to the railway station to go to Kyiv to reach Ukraine's western border. (UNI)