'Shots fired, people thrashed': Indian student claims Ukrainian troops forced them back into Ukraine
Disturbing accounts from Indian students at the Ukraine-Poland border surfaced with them claiming to be beaten up by Ukrainian forces. The students also alleged that they were being prevented from leaving the war-ridden country.
In the video that surfaced on Sunday, the Indian students can be seen alleging that Ukrainian soldiers and police are forcing them back into Ukraine from the border of Poland by firing in the air and attempting to drive their cars into the crowd.
Several Indian students, the majority of whom are from Kerala, were reportedly attacked near the Ukraine-Poland border at Shehyni.
According to a video message from Angel, a Malayali student, the Ukrainian military and police were beating them and even drove vehicles at students attempting to escape into Poland. According to reports, the shots were also fired in the air by Ukrainian forces.
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Angel can be heard saying in a video that she and her friend were pushed and beaten, add the police tried to ram their vehicles into the group of students. She further said that they (Ukrainian soldiers) did not care that students fell.
“This is too bad, this is not the way that the Ukraine government or military should treat foreign citizens. This is not how we expect help," the Indian student added.
"Military personnel beat me and shoved me to the side of the road. My friend who reacted was also attacked and pushed down the road," she said.
Students arrived at the border areas after travelling several kilometres in extreme weather, with little food and water, according to some of their parents.
Despite the Kerala government's call to students to only cross borders on the orders of embassy officials, many students were attempting to do so on their own as the situation in Ukraine deteriorated, according to parents.
The Indian embassy in Kyiv has advised the Indian diaspora to move away from conflict zones.
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The embassy in its advisory to Indian nationals on Saturday stressed that the situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the government is working continuously with embassies in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens.
"All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kyiv," the advisory stated.
-PTC News
