India confirms eight deaths of nationals in Russian armed forces

Eight Indian nationals have died while serving in the Russian military, the government confirmed in parliament on Thursday (August 1), according to The Wire.

Previously, only four of these deaths had been acknowledged.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh responded to questions in the Council of States, also known as Rajya Sabha, regarding the conscription of Indian nationals into the Russian army. “Eight deaths have been reported where the citizenship of the deceased has been verified as Indian,” Singh stated.

He also mentioned that the government had received requests to facilitate the early discharge of “some Indian nationals purportedly recruited into the Russian armed forces under unclear circumstances,” though the exact number of such individuals remains unknown.

Current information indicates that 12 Indian nationals have already left the Russian armed forces, while another 63 are seeking early discharge.

Many young people from states including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala have been travelling to Russia in search of employment opportunities, often assisted by travel agents. Once in Russia, these youths are reportedly being forced to sign contracts to join the Russian army.

Read also: Modi to push for early release of Indians from Russian army during Moscow talks

Before Singh's response in parliament, the Ministry of External Affairs had confirmed the deaths of four Indians serving in Russia’s military. The Wire reported on the death of an additional Indian, a 22-year-old from Haryana, although the government has not confirmed this death.

In the Rajya Sabha, Singh stated that financial support had been provided for the transportation of the mortal remains of four Indian nationals and assured that such support would continue in other cases as required. He added that Russia had informed India that compensation would be provided to the families of the deceased individuals as per the contracts they had signed.

Singh further mentioned that India was taking up the case of Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces with the highest authorities in the Russian government. He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “strongly reiterated the urgent need for the early release of all Indian nationals from the Russian armed forces” during his visit to Moscow last month.

“MEA has also urged all Indian nationals to exercise due caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia and to stay away from this conflict,” Singh added.

During Modi’s visit, then-Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters in Moscow that the Russians had “promised the early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian army.” However, this was not mentioned in the MEA’s written answer.