In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Russia has agreed to discharge and facilitate the return of all Indians fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. This development, confirmed by sources on Tuesday, followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s private dinner meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
PM Modi is on a pivotal two-day visit to Russia, marking his first trip since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. The last time Modi visited Russia was in 2019, and he and Putin previously met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan in 2022.
The issue of Indians fighting for Russia in the Ukraine conflict has been a pressing concern for New Delhi. Reports have emerged of Indians being deceived by job frauds, resulting in their forced recruitment into the Russian army, which accepts foreign recruits. A group of these Indians posted a video on social media detailing their plight and pleading for government intervention. So far, four Indians have died in the conflict, ten have returned, and approximately 35-40 are still believed to be in Russia.
India’s Foreign Ministry has been actively working to bring back these recruits, with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar labeling the situation a “very deep concern.” The ministry has been in discussions with Russia for several months, emphasizing that the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army conflicts with the diplomatic partnership between India and Russia. India has also demanded an end to such recruitments in the future. The agreement reached during PM Modi’s visit brings significant relief to the families of those still in Russia.
Two Indians, Ashvinbhai Mangukiya and Mohammad Asfan from Gujarat, were reported killed in the Ukraine war earlier this year, with two others reported killed in June.
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