NEW DELHI, Jan 17: India confirmed on Friday that 12 Indian nationals have lost their lives while serving with the Russian military, and 16 others are currently listed as missing by Russian authorities.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal provided the update, stating that a total of 126 Indians had been enlisted with the Russian military, with 96 of them having already been discharged.
“Out of the 126 Indian nationals serving in the Russian armed forces, 96 have been discharged and have returned to India,” Jaiswal said during his weekly media briefing. “Unfortunately, twelve Indian nationals have died while serving in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
Jaiswal added that of the remaining 18, the whereabouts of 16 individuals are unknown, with Russia officially categorizing them as missing. “The MEA remains in close contact with the families of these missing individuals,” he said, emphasizing that efforts are underway to locate them and facilitate their safe return.
The Ministry has been actively engaged with Russian authorities to ensure the swift repatriation of those still in Russia.
The recent confirmation of the death of an Indian national, Binil TB from Kerala, was shared earlier this week. Binil, hailing from Thrissur, was the latest casualty in the conflict, bringing the total number of confirmed Indian deaths to 10.
“His death is deeply unfortunate,” Jaiswal said, confirming that the Indian Embassy in Moscow is working with Russian authorities to repatriate his body. Another individual, also from Kerala and injured in the conflict, is receiving treatment at a Moscow hospital. The Embassy is monitoring his recovery and facilitating his return once his treatment concludes.
Following the death of Binil, India renewed calls for the release of all Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian military. Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the matter during discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in July 2024, pressing for the early discharge of the Indian nationals.
In October 2024, it was reported that 85 Indian nationals had been discharged from the Russian military, and efforts were ongoing to secure the release of 20 more. The Russian embassy confirmed that both Moscow and New Delhi are collaborating to facilitate the discharge of Indian nationals who had voluntarily enlisted in military service but now wish to return to India.
Since April 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence has ceased recruiting citizens from several foreign countries, including India, into its military forces.
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