Indian citizens caught in deadly conflict in Ukraine war
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that at least 12 Indian citizens have died in Ukraine while serving in the Russian armed forces. Sixteen people have been reported missing. Efforts are underway to bring the bodies back to India.
According to "The Times of India," out of 126 cases of Indian citizens being inducted into the Russian military, 96 have been discharged and have returned to the country. Of the remaining 30 people, 12 have died, and 18 are still serving in the military, with 16 reported missing.
One of the casualties is 32-year-old Binil Babu, an electrician from Kerala, who died on the front line in January.
- The matter has been strongly taken up with Russian authorities in Moscow as well as with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi – reported a representative of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. – We have also sought the early discharge and repatriation to India of the injured person – he added.
Appeal from the Indian authorities
At the beginning of 2024, the Indian authorities appealed to their citizens to avoid participating in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In March, they reported the dismantling of a network of intermediaries who were sending Indians to Russia under the pretext of providing them with jobs. In May, four arrests were made on charges of human trafficking. The suspects were released on bail, and since then, no progress has been reported in the case.
The shocking scheme was described by the American "The Washington Post".
