Following the deaths of Indian nationals serving in the Russian army during the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Russian Embassy in India has issued a statement expressing deep condolences to the Government of India and the families of the deceased. The embassy emphasized their commitment to fulfilling all contractual obligations and providing compensation to the Indians who voluntarily enlisted in the Russian military.
In the statement released on Saturday, the embassy clarified that the Russian Ministry of Defence has ceased the admission of citizens from various countries, including India, to military service since April of this year. They vehemently denied any involvement in public or covert campaigns to recruit Indian nationals for military service in Russia, dismissing rumors of fraudulent schemes.
India has been persistently urging Russia to ensure the safety and repatriation of its citizens employed by the Russian army, raising the issue through diplomatic channels for months. The deaths of two more Indian nationals serving in the Russian military in June escalated concerns.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra confirmed that India has been actively engaging with Russian authorities on the matter, reiterating their priority to ensure the safety of all Indian nationals in the war zone. He emphasized that all Indian nationals involved in the conflict, regardless of how they came to be there, should be returned to India.
To date, four Indian nationals have lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine war. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reports that ten Indians working as support staff with the Russian military have been released and repatriated to India. Media reports suggest that at least 200 Indian nationals were recruited as security helpers in the Russian military during the course of the war.
