202 Indian nationals have been recruited into the Russian armed forces since 2022, of which 7 have been reported missing and 26 have been declared dead, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The update was shared by the centre in response to a question from Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale and Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala where the opposition leaders sought clarity on the government’s efforts to ensure the return of Indians who had been allegedly recruited forcefully to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
What Centre told parliament
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that committed diplomatic efforts from the Indian side recently resulted in the early discharge of 119 Indian nationals. Expanding on the progress made by the Indian diplomatic side the minister added that 50 more individuals are expected to be added to that list who are presently awaiting release from the Russian Army.
The government also confirmed that 26 Indians have lost their lives in the conflict, while seven are reported missing as per information shared by the Russian side. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) remains in continuous engagement with Russian authorities to ensure their safety, well-being and early return, he added.
Status of Indian nationals killed in Russia-Ukraine war
Giving an update on the facilitation of cremation processes for the deceased, Singh told members of the Rajya Sabha that mortal remains of 10 Indian nationals have been returned to India, while two were cremated locally in Russia with assistance from the Indian Mission.
Some of the Indian nationals had met with fatalities in such a manner that it made it much harder for the Russian army to identify their dead bodies. “DNA samples of family members of 18 Indians, who were reported dead or missing, have been shared with the Russian authorities in an effort to help establish the identity of some of the deceased Indian nationals” Singh told members of the Rajya Sabha.
As per Singh, the Indian Embassy in Russia has played a key role in assisting discharged nationals with travel documents, air tickets and logistical support for their return. “The Indian embassy in Russia coordinated closely with families in India to ensure safe return of mortal remains, ensuring consent-based decisions on cremation or transportation,” the MoS added.
The government said the issue has been taken up at multiple diplomatic levels, including during interactions between leaders, ministers and senior officials of both countries, and assured Parliament that efforts will continue until all remaining Indians are discharged and brought home safely.
It is important to note here that this update from the MEA comes just a couple days after Russian Premier Vladimir Putin’s visit to India where both sides had made promises to expand the strategic partnership between their respective countries.
