NEW DELHI: Two
Indian nationals
recruited recently by
Russian army
have died in
Russia-Ukraine conflict
, govt said in a statement on Tuesday.
MEA and Indian embassy
in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with Russian ambassador Denis Alipov in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian army.
According to the ministry, India has also demanded that there be a "verified stop" to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian army. "Such activities will not be in consonance with our partnership," India warned Russia. Govt did not identity the men killed.
India has previously also raised this issue with Moscow urging it to release Indian men who were mostly working as helpers with the Russian army. "We regret to state that two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine," the statement said while urging Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia.
"We offer our deepest condolences to families of the deceased. Our embassy in Moscow has pressed Russian authorities, including ministry of defence, for early repatriation of mortal remains," it added.
India had said in Feb that "a few" Indian nationals had signed up for support jobs with the Russian army and that the
Indian embassy
in Moscow had regularly taken up this matter with the relevant Russian authorities for their early discharge. Ten such Indian nationals were reported to have returned in April.
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