Language barriers bedevil Russian front as Nepalese mercenaries struggle

The curious problem of Russians on the front. Former Ukrainian Deputy Interior Minister Anton Heraszczenko shared a video from the front showing Russian fighters unable to communicate with Nepalese mercenaries.

It's the 812th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops crossed the border from the north and entered Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. Heavy fighting is ongoing, and Ukrainian authorities are urging civilians from the endangered areas to evacuate.

In the meantime, the topic of mercenaries in the Russian army re-emerges. Anton Heraszczenko shared another video in which Russian soldiers in the trenches can't communicate with Nepalese who do not speak Russian; the only foreign language they know is English, which the Russians shown in the material do not understand. The country at the foot of the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest, was a British colony.

Russian soldiers in the trenches tried to explain to the Nepalese the locations of the Ukrainian and Russian forces by drawing on the ground and pointing in different directions.

Do you know where the sun comes up? Don't shoot there! - the Russian soldiers told the Nepalese.

As Heraszczenko previously noted, not all Russians favour such mercenaries. In the comments to the video from a few weeks ago, showcasing Nepalese fighting on the Russian side named Papendo, there was an outpour of hate and racist comments directed at him.

Heraszczenko reported the Russians are concerned that individuals like him will remain in Russia after the war. Many Russians believe it's acceptable for foreigners to die for their country but unacceptable for them to live in it.

In April 2024, the Asia Research Center, just before its shutdown by the War Art Academy, released a commentary on Nepalese mercenaries in the ranks of the Russian army.

According to the report, by the time the report was compiled, an estimated 200 and even a thousand Nepalese could be serving on the Russian side - by April, 10 of them were confirmed dead.

To limit the number of mercenaries from Nepal in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, on January 4th, the government in Kathmandu suspended the issuance of visas to its citizens seeking employment abroad in both Russia and Ukraine.

The Asia Research Center report mentioned that for many Nepalese, the salary offer from the Russian forces seems very attractive, along with the promise of expedited Russian Federation citizenship.