Russia expresses deep condolences over casualties of Indian citizens in military ops in Ukraine

Srinagar, Aug 10: The Russian Embassy in New Delhi on Saturday expressed deep condolences with the Government of India and families over casualties of Indian citizens in service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the course of special military operation in Ukraine.

“The Russian Embassy in New Delhi has been in receipt of numerous requests from the media to comment on the issue on Indian citizens in service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as there have been unfortunate instances of casualties among them in the course of the special military operation in Ukraine,” a statement issued by Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of India reads.

The officials of the Russian Embassy expressed deep condolences to the Government of India and the families of the deceased.

The statement said that officials are strenuously engaged in identification and discharge of Indian nationals who had been contracted for military services voluntarily in Russia.

“The agencies concerned in both countries work in close coordination for early identification and discharge of Indian nationals who voluntarily contracted for military service in Russia. All contractual obligations and due compensation payments will be fulfilled in full measure,” the statement said.

The officials as per the statement maintained that since April the authorities of Russian Federation have stopped admission of citizens of various foreign countries to military services in Russia.

“Since April this year the Military of Defence of the Russian Federation has stopped admission of citizens of a number of foreign countries, including India, to military service in the Russian Armed Forces. The Embassy outlines that the Russian Government has at no point of time been engaged in any public or obscure campaigns, more so in fraudulent schemes to recruit the Indian nationals for military service in Russia,” it said.

Notably the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a criminal case against 19 individuals and entities involved in human trafficking, with connections to the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Responding to a question from an honourable member, the Minister stated, “The CBI has examined 14 individuals who returned from Russia, and sufficient evidence has surfaced against 10 known human traffickers. During the investigation, four of the accused were arrested—two on April 24th and two more on May 7th. All four are currently in judicial custody.”

The Minister informed the house that the government is aware of 91 cases where Indian nationals were recruited into the Russian army. “Unfortunately, eight of them have passed away. With our assistance, 14 have been discharged or have returned, and 69 Indian citizens are still awaiting release,” he said.