Russia has promised to discharge Indian nationals who were misled into joining its army to fight in Ukraine, according to India’s foreign secretary. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent visit to Moscow, emphasizing the importance of bringing all Indians home as soon as possible.
The Russian government has committed to the early discharge of all Indian nationals from its army. This comes after months of efforts by India to secure the release of its citizens, with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs maintaining continuous contact with Russian authorities for this purpose.
Reports suggest that Russia has been recruiting foreign men to fight in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Many of these individuals, including young men from South Asia, were lured by the promise of stable employment and higher salaries in Russia.
In Nepal, it was revealed that between 14,000 and 15,000 Nepalis were fighting on the front lines in Ukraine. The Russian government had offered attractive incentives for foreign fighters, such as a monthly salary of at least $2,000 and a fast track to Russian citizenship.
India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) uncovered major human trafficking networks involved in deceiving men into Russian military roles, identifying 35 such cases. The trafficked Indian nationals were trained for combat and deployed in the Russia-Ukraine war zone against their will.
While the exact number of Indians recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine remains uncertain, it is estimated to be between 35 and 50 individuals. So far, 10 Indian nationals have returned to India, with efforts underway to repatriate the remaining individuals promptly.
India does not have a law prohibiting its citizens from serving in a foreign state's military. However, cases like that of a Hyderabad family whose brother was misled into joining the Russian army and subsequently killed in combat highlight the dangers associated with such recruitment practices.
Returned Nepali fighters have also criticized Russia for using them as cannon fodder in the war, noting inadequate training and dire conditions on the front lines. The Nepalis who fought for Russia reported receiving minimal training before being thrust into combat situations.
These accounts underscore the urgent need for greater oversight and regulation of foreign recruitment practices for military service, as well as the importance of safeguarding individuals from exploitation and harm in conflict zones.
