The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said it is trying its best for an “early discharge” of around 20 Indian nationals who are working as “support staff” to the Russian army.
“It is our understanding that there are 20-odd people (Indians) who have gone their to work as support staff or as helpers with the Russian army,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
The MEA spokesperson said that the government is trying its level best for their early discharge, adding that the people have been asked not to venture into the war zone or get caught into situations which are difficult.
On Monday, the MEA said several Indians who worked as support staff to the Russian army were discharged following India’s demand.
In a statement, the MEA had said, “We have seen some inaccurate reports in the media regarding Indians with the Russian army seeking help for discharge.”
“Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities and those brought to the attention of the Ministry have been taken up with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. Several Indians have already been discharged as a result,” it said.
“We remain committed, as a matter of top priority, to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army,” the release added.
The ministry’s statement follows a report that said that some Indians are working as support staff to the Russian army in the conflict zone of the Ukraine war and have been forced to fight alongside the Russian soldiers, reported The Indian Express. The matter was also raised by All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to bring back these men.