Twelve Indian troops have died in the Russia-Ukraine war, while 18 others remain employed in Moscow.
Twelve Indian troops have died in the Russia-Ukraine war, while 18 others remain employed in Moscow.
The topic of Indians joining the Russian army after the Ukraine war began has come back into focus following the death of an Indian recruit from Kerala and injuries sustained by another.
Twelve Indians who joined the Russian army to fight on the Ukraine front have died, while 18 remain in Moscow’s employment, the external affairs ministry said on Friday.
The ministry added that 16 of these 18 individuals had been declared missing by Moscow, six months after it assured India of their early discharge during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia in July. The issue of Indians joining the Russian army after the Ukraine war began has resurfaced following the death of an Indian recruit from Kerala and injuries sustained by another.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal avoided directly addressing why Indians remain in the Russian army despite Modi raising the matter with the Russian leadership.
In July, during a briefing on Modi’s Moscow visit, then-foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra had stated: “The Prime Minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian army.” He added that the Russian side had promised the early discharge of all Indian nationals.
Six months later, the issue remains unresolved. “We have been in constant touch with the Russian authorities for the early release and repatriation of Indian nationals serving in the Russian army,” Jaiswal said.
He noted that the government was aware of 126 Indians being recruited to the Russian army, out of which 96 have been discharged and returned home.
“As per available information, 18 Indian nationals remain in the Russian army. Of these, 16 individuals’ whereabouts are unknown, and the Russian side has categorized them as missing,” Jaiswal said. “We remain engaged with the Russian authorities to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing Indian nationals and to seek the early release and repatriation of those who remain.”
The Russian embassy in New Delhi had stated in April that the country’s army had stopped recruiting Indians. This followed complaints from some recruits who claimed they were misled into joining the Russian army under the pretense of being employed as non-combatant workers or helpers, only to be sent to the Ukraine war frontline.
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