India has urged Russia to return its citizens who were recruited by the Russian army after two Indians were recently killed in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra addressed the issue during a press conference on Wednesday, stating, “I want to assure you that the Indian government has taken the matter very seriously.”
The Indian foreign ministry announced on Tuesday night that it was in contact with Russian authorities to arrange the repatriation of the remains of the two deceased Indians. This brings the total number of Indian casualties in the Ukraine conflict to four, with two others having died earlier this year while fighting alongside Russian forces.
Despite the deaths of its citizens, India has refrained from voting against Russia at the United Nations or criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. India considers Russia a long-standing ally from the Cold War era, with cooperation spanning defense, oil, nuclear energy, and space exploration.
Prior to the recent deaths, India had stated that its authorities were in discussions with Russia regarding the return of its citizens, who it claimed had been duped into working for the Russian army. The Indian federal investigation agency reported having dismantled a human trafficking network that lured individuals to Russia under the guise of providing employment, with at least 35 Indians being sent through agents.
India is not the only country facing this issue. Sri Lanka and Russia held talks last month to address the problem of Sri Lankans fighting alongside Russians in Ukraine, with at least 16 reported missing in action. The South Asian island nation stated that its citizens had been deceived into traveling to Russia with promises of attractive salaries and benefits, including Russian citizenship.
Similarly, Nepal requested in January that Russia send back hundreds of Nepali nationals who were recruited to fight against Ukraine. At least 14 Nepali citizens have lost their lives in the conflict.
As the war in Ukraine continues, the international community is grappling with the consequences of foreign nationals being recruited to fight on behalf of Russia. The Indian government’s efforts to secure the return of its citizens and the repatriation of the deceased’s remains highlight the human cost of this ongoing conflict and the need for greater international cooperation to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
