Two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army have been killed in the ongoing war Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The MEA has also demanded a verified stop from Russia to the recruitment of Indians in its army.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our embassy in Moscow has pressed the Russian authorities including the Ministry of Defence for early distribution of mortal remains,” the MEA said in an official release on June 11, 2024.
The Indian embassy in Moscow is working to repatriate the mortal remains of the deceased as soon as possible, an Indian media agency reported. Another Indian media agency, three Indians have been killed in the fighting in Ukraine. They have been identified as 30-year-old Tejpal Singh from Amritsar. 23-year-old Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya from Surat and 31-year-old Mohammed Asfan from Hyderabad.
The MEA has addressed the issue of Indian nationals with the Russian Army and is advocating for their early release and return. “The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow, respectively for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army,” the statement said.
The ministry also urged caution for Indian nationals seeking employment in Russia. “India has also demanded that there will be a verified stop to any further recruitment of our nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia, the ministry said. In March 2024, the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that India is in “constant communication” with the Russian authorities to secure the release of the Indian nationals in Russian Army, according to an Indian media agency.
“Regarding Russia, as told earlier also, we are constantly in touch with the Russian authorities we have taken it up strongly for them to have our nationals released and discharged as early as possible,” Jaiswal stated. He also said there are at least 20 persons there who had sought help to return back to India.
Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) uncovered major human trafficking network targeting Indian nationals with promises of lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them the Russia-Ukraine War zone, the Indian media agency said.
The CBI conducted searches around thirteen locations including Delhi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. The agency stated that these traffickers operated as an organised network luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube and locals for highly paid jobs in Russia.
