A 21-year-old, who was twice rejected by the Indian Army, is now defending Ukraine against the Russian aggression.
Sainikhesh Ravichandran, who hails from Thudaliyur in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, is studying aerospace engineering at Kharkiv National University in Ukraine. He is now helping the Georgian National Legion paramilitary unit comprising volunteers in Ukraine to fight against the invading Russian army, IANS reported quoting intelligence input available with the Centre.
Ravichandran nurtures a passion for the military and armed training and has attempted to join the Indian Army twice after completing his schooling in 2018. However, he was rejected in both attempts because of his height.
According to a family friend, Ravichandran had also enquired with the US consulate in Chennai about his chances to join the US military, The Times of India reported. He later went to study aerospace engineering at the Kharkiv National University in 2018 and was pursuing the five-year course when the Russian troops invaded the country.
"He had contacted home a few days ago and said that he was safe and he was not listening to our requests to come back," his father said, requesting the Centre to bring him back.
Despite requests from the family, Ravichandran had refused to change his mind and come back home, his father said.
