The Ministry of External Affairs Friday said at least 12 Indians have died while serving in the Russian armed forces in the country’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. About 18 Indian nationals are still serving in the army, of which the whereabouts of 16 individuals are not known yet, the ministry added.
Addressing a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there were 126 cases of Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army — 96 individuals were discharged from the Russian Armed Forces and have returned to India.
The Indian Express reported earlier this week that a Kerala man on the frontlines had been killed while his relative sustained serious injuries. The deceased person has been identified as Binil T B, 32, a resident of Wadakkanchery in Kerala’s Thrissur district. The injured person is Jain T K, 27, who also comes from the same region.
Condoling about Binil’s death, Jaiswal said, “The death of Binil Babu is extremely unfortunate. We have conveyed our condolences to the family. Our embassy is in touch with the Russian authorities so that his mortal remains could come back to India as soon as possible. Another person who was injured is receiving treatment in Moscow. Hopefully, he will also be returning to India soon after his treatment is completed.”
The ministry has also sought an early discharge and repatriation of the injured person to India.
Binil and Jain were among several Indian youths who had travelled to Russia in April in the hopes of being employed in the country’s military support service as electricians, cooks, plumbers and drivers.
Earlier, this week Jaiswal said the matter has been “strongly taken up” with authorities in Moscow as well as the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. “We have also reiterated our demand for the early discharge of the remaining Indian nationals,” the MEA’s official spokesperson said.
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