Malayali killed in Ukraine shell attack targeting Russian soldiers

THRISSUR: In shocking news, a Thrissur native was killed in the Ukrainian shell attack on the Russian military on Sunday. Relatives on Sunday received the death news of the Nayarangadi native Sandeep (36), who was part of the Russian military team. The official statement about the death will be received on Monday, said the Malayali association in Moscow.

A total of 12 soldiers including Sandeep were killed in the attack. The body kept in the mortuary was identified by a few members of the Malayali community in Russia. With weekends being holidays for embassies, the official information along with the photo will reach the family only on Monday.

It was on April 2 that Sandeep along with seven other Malayalees, flew to Moscow to join the Kremlin army in its fight against the Ukrainian forces. All of them reached the country through an agency working in Chalakudy. Sandeep kept the news of joining the army a secret from his family and told them he would soon start work in a restaurant in Moscow. He later told his family about getting a job in the army canteen, and in the last call told about losing his passport and phone.

It is learned that Sandeep even took Russian citizenship to join the army. The citizenship dilemma will pose trouble, but it is expected of the embassy to do the required work, to ensure that the mortal remains reach Sandeep’s hometown in Thrissur.