Russia-Ukraine conflict: Student shot in Kyiv to return on Monday

Harjot Singh’s family in Delhi said they were 'very very happy' and was eagerly waiting for his arrival

On February 27, 31-year-old Harjot, along with his two friends, boarded a cab for the western Ukrainian city of Lviv in a bid to escape Kyiv.: File photo

PTI   |   New Delhi   |    07.03.22 : Indian student Harjot Singh, who was shot in Kyiv in Ukraine a few days ago, is returning to Delhi on Monday, Union minister of state for civil aviation V.K. Singh said.

Harjot’s family in Delhi said they were “very very happy” and was eagerly waiting for his arrival.

“Harjot Singh is the Indian who was shot during the war in Kyiv. His passport was also lost in the chaos,” V.K. Singh tweeted.

हरजोत सिंह वह भारतीय हैं जिन्हें कीव में युद्ध के दौरान गोली लग गई थी। अफरातफरी में इनका पासपोर्ट भी गुम गया था।

सहर्ष सूचित कर रहा हूं कि हरजोत कल भारत हमारे साथ पहुंच रहे हैं।

आशा है घर के खाने और देखभाल के साथ शीघ्र स्वास्थ्यवर्धन होगा।#OperationGanga#NoIndianLeftBehind pic.twitter.com/NxOkD9mJ9U

— General Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) March 6, 2022

He said Harjot was reaching India with him on Monday.  “Hope there is a speedy recovery with home food and care,” the minister stated.        

Singh, who is currently in Poland to facilitate students’ evacuation, had on March 4 told reporters: “Today, we heard reports that a student leaving Kyiv was shot. He was taken back to Kyiv. This will happen in a fighting.”

On February 27, 31-year-old Harjot, along with his two friends, boarded a cab for the western Ukrainian city of Lviv in a bid to escape Kyiv. He received four bullets, including one in the chest.

“We got the news (about his return) from the media. We are very very happy that Harjot is returning. We have been very worried for him. I haven’t been able to talk with him over phone, but he texted saying he is coming tomorrow. No government officials have apprised us on it,” his brother Prabhjot told PTI.

The ministry of external affairs on Friday announced that the government had decided to bear Harjot’s medical expenses.

On March 1, medical student Naveen SG from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv when he ventured out to buy food for himself and fellow students.

The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive against it. Indian citizens stuck in Ukraine were being airlifted once they cross to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

Eight flights with more than 1,500 Indians will operate from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries to India on Monday, the ministry of civil aviation stated.