COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Ukrainian journalist has released horrific details about the seven Sri Lankan medical students who were allegedly captured and tortured by Russian soldiers in the Kharkiv region near the Russian border where there has been intense fighting for months.
The six men and one woman were beaten, had their nails torn off, and forced to work for free, Maria Romanenko, a Ukrainian journalist reporting from the UK, said in her Tweeted story.
The seven students, aged 20-40, arrived in Ukraine around 3 weeks before the all-out invasion last March and rented a house in Kupiansk, a town that was captured by Russian forces and occupied until it was retaken by the Ukrainian army a few days ago. They were hiding in their house for some time until they decided to try and flee into Kharkiv, she tweeted.
However, they were stopped at the first Russian checkpoint that they tried to cross. The Russians blindfolded them and took them to the nearby town of Vovchansk, which was also occupied by Russian forces until a few days ago, she added.
“After the areas were liberated by Ukraine, the 7 Sri Lankans tried to walk to Kharkiv again. When they found a hotel on their way, the security guard there took them in, looked after them, and called the police. They’re now safe and the police are investigating their case.” the Ukrainian Journalist added.
The names of the seven students have not yet been made available by authorities. News First has reached out to the Russian and Ukrainian authorities about the students’ story, but no details have been received up to now. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said it is inquiring into the matter. News First has not been able to independently corroborate the Ukrainian journalist’s story.
