4 Indian students injured in knife attack at Russian medical university hostel

Four Indian students were among several people injured after a teenager armed with a knife attacked residents inside a foreign students’ hostel at Russia’s State Medical University in Ufa, the capital of the Bashkortostan Republic, on February 7.

Confirming the incident, the Indian Embassy in Moscow described it as “unfortunate” and said it was closely monitoring the situation in coordination with Russian authorities. Officials from the Indian Consulate in Kazan are travelling to Ufa to assist the injured students and facilitate further support.

According to Russia’s Interior Ministry, the attacker — a 15-year-old — entered the university dormitory and began stabbing students living there. During attempts to subdue him, two police officers were also injured. The suspect later inflicted injuries on himself before being detained.

“The attacker resisted arrest, during which two police officers were stabbed. The suspect also caused bodily harm to himself,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Major General Irina Volk told RTVI.com.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the condition of the injured or the severity of their wounds. Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a probe into the incident.

Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and fear inside the hostel. Russian media quoted witnesses as saying there was “blood all around” following the attack. Video footage circulating on social media showed emergency responders rushing victims to hospitals, while police escorted the accused through heavy snowfall outside the campus.

Russian officials have so far not confirmed a motive or whether the suspect had any prior link to the victims. However, the Baza Telegram channel, which has ties to Russian law enforcement, claimed the attacker was associated with a banned neo-Nazi organization and was shouting nationalist slogans during the assault. The channel also alleged that a swastika — a symbol of Nazi ideology — was drawn on a wall using the victims’ blood. These claims have not been officially verified.

The Bashkortostan Republic, particularly Ufa, is a popular hub for Indian students pursuing medical and engineering degrees. The attack has heightened concerns over the safety of international students in the region, prompting calls for increased security and vigilance on university campuses.