India Urges Russia to Return Citizens Recruited for Ukraine War Amid Rising Casualties

India presses Russia to repatriate Indian nationals recruited into the Russian army, following the deaths of two Indians in the Ukraine conflict.

India has called on Russia to return its citizens recruited into the Russian military after two Indians were killed in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Indian government is taking the matter seriously, as stated by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is in contact with Russian authorities to arrange the repatriation of the remains of the deceased.

This incident is not isolated. Earlier this year, two other Indians died while fighting in Ukraine. India has traditionally maintained a neutral stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, refraining from voting against Russia at the United Nations or criticizing President Vladimir Putin. This neutrality is rooted in a long-standing alliance dating back to the Cold War, with extensive cooperation in defense, energy, and space exploration.

The Indian government revealed that many of its citizens were misled into joining the Russian army under false pretenses. India's federal investigation agency has uncovered a human trafficking network responsible for sending at least 35 Indians to Russia under the guise of providing employment opportunities.

Similar issues have arisen in other South Asian countries. Last month, Sri Lanka and Russia discussed the repatriation of Sri Lankans who had been recruited to fight in Ukraine, with at least 16 Sri Lankans reported missing in action. Sri Lankan authorities indicated that their citizens were lured to Russia with promises of lucrative salaries and benefits, including Russian citizenship.

Nepal has also faced this problem. In January, Nepal requested Russia to return hundreds of Nepali nationals recruited to fight in the conflict, with at least 14 reported deaths among Nepali fighters in Ukraine.

These developments highlight a broader issue of South Asian nationals being misled and trafficked into conflict zones. The governments of India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal are actively working to address this serious issue and ensure the safe return of their citizens.