NEW DELHI: At least 51 Indian nationals recruited into the Russian military have been killed while fighting in the Ukraine war, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, highlighting the growing risks faced by Indians who joined Russia’s armed forces.
Misri shared the figures during a media briefing in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, saying that 227 Indian citizens had been recruited into the Russian military. Of those, 51 have died during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Indian government has been seeking the release and return of citizens who were recruited into the Russian military, with New Delhi repeatedly raising the issue with Moscow.
According to Misri, 139 Indians have so far been discharged from the Russian armed forces and have returned or are in the process of returning home. However, around two dozen Indian nationals are still believed to be serving in the Russian military.
The figures have renewed attention on how Indian citizens ended up in the Russian military despite the Indian government’s efforts to secure their release.
Unemployment blamed for recruitment
Indian media reports have linked the recruitment of young Indians to the country’s unemployment problem. Some young men reportedly travelled to Russia after being promised jobs or other opportunities before subsequently finding themselves involved with the Russian military.
The issue has become a sensitive diplomatic matter between New Delhi and Moscow, traditionally close partners. India has been pressing Russia to ensure that Indian nationals recruited into its armed forces are released and allowed to return home.
The Indian Supreme Court has also directed the Narendra Modi government to take steps to facilitate the return of Indians recruited into the Russian military.
The deaths of 51 Indians underline the dangers faced by foreign nationals involved in the Russia-Ukraine war, which has continued to draw recruits from outside Russia.
The Indian government is now working to secure the release of those still serving, while families of missing or deployed Indians continue to seek information about their relatives.
