
NEW DELHI, Jan 17: At least 16 Indian nationals deployed by the Russian Army to fight in Ukraine are missing, while 12 have been killed so far, the Ministry of External Affairs informed on Friday.
Following the death last week of one and serious injuries to another recruit from Kerala, during the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, India had strongly raised the matter with Moscow and reiterated its demand for the early discharge of all Indians from the Russian Army.
“As of today, there have been 126 cases (of Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army). Of these 126 cases, 96 people have returned to India and have been discharged from the Russian Armed Forces. 18 Indian nationals in the Russian Army remain and out of them the whereabouts of 16 individuals are not known,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a briefing on Friday.
Jaiswal said Russia has categorised the 16 Indian nationals as “missing,” adding that India is seeking early release and repatriation of those who remain. At least 12 Indian nationals have been killed fighting for the Russian Army in Ukraine.
The Ministry also extended its condolences to death of the Kerala man Binil Babu, who was killed during the Ukraine conflict and said the Indian embassy is in touch with Russian authorities for the repatriation of his mortal remains. Another Indian national Jain T K is receiving treatment in Moscow and is expected to return to India once his treatment is completed.
The External Affairs Ministry had said on Tuesday that the embassy in Moscow was in touch with the families of the two Indians and all possible assistance was being extended. “We have learnt of the unfortunate death of an Indian national from Kerala, who had apparently been recruited to serve in the Russian Army,” Jaiswal said. The MEA spokesperson said India has also reiterated its demand for an early discharge of the remaining Indian nationals in Russian military.
Binil (32) and Jain (27) are ITI mechanical diploma holders and had gone to Russia on April 4, hoping to work as electricians and plumbers. However, upon arrival, their Indian passports were confiscated, and they were subsequently deployed to the war zone as part of the Russian Military Support Service, according to relatives.
Dozens of Indians have reportedly been duped by agents into fighting for Russian forces with the lure of money and a Russian passport. In May last year, the police arrested four people allegedly linked to a network of human traffickers on suspicion of luring young men to Russia with the promise of jobs or education, only to force them to fight in Ukraine.
In July, Russia promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian Army after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the matter “strongly” with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the former’s visit to Moscow. “The prime minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army,” the MEA said at the time.
Prior to that, India had demanded that there be a “verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army and that such activities would not be in “consonance with our partnership.”
(Manas Dasgupta)