Russia-Ukraine war: 49 Indians killed after joining Russian army, Centre tells Supreme Court
Russia-Ukraine war: The Central Government has informed the Supreme Court that 49 Indian nationals have lost their lives after joining the Russian Armed Forces during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The government also said that many others are still missing or their status is yet to be confirmed.
The information was shared in a status report submitted before the apex court during the hearing of a petition seeking safe return of Indian citizens allegedly trapped in Russia and forced to fight in the war.
According to the report filed by the Centre, around 217 Indian nationals had reportedly joined the Russian military.
The government said after continuous talks with Russian authorities, 139 Indians have already been released from their contracts with the Russian Army. However, the situation remains serious for several others.
The Centre informed the court that 49 Indians have died in the conflict so far. Apart from this, six Indian nationals have officially been declared missing by Russian authorities. The government also said that the status of 23 more Indians is still unknown and efforts are ongoing to trace them. The Indian Embassy in Moscow is continuously in touch with Russian officials regarding these cases.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the court that DNA samples of family members of 21 missing individuals have been collected and sent to Russian authorities to help identify bodies and trace missing persons.
The Centre assured the court that all such matters are being treated with top priority and affected families are being regularly informed about updates.
The petition before the Supreme Court mentioned 26 Indian citizens allegedly detained or missing in Russia.
According to the Centre, 14 cases relate to reported deaths, 11 individuals have been marked as “missing in action” or are not in contact with their families.One Indian citizen is currently serving an eight-year jail sentence in Russia in a molestation case
The Centre told the court that some Indian nationals were allegedly attracted by high salaries and promises offered by recruiters.
As per the report, recruits were reportedly promised signing bonus of around USD 5,000, monthly salary of nearly USD 2,500, Russian citizenship, social benefits and compensation of about USD 1,68,000 in case of death.
The government said whenever information about any Indian joining the Russian Army reached the Indian Embassy, officials immediately raised the matter with Russian authorities to ensure safety and secure their return.
The Centre also informed the court that the Indian Embassy has helped bring back mortal remains of eight Indian nationals after getting consent from their families.
The expenses for transportation and related procedures were paid through the Indian Community Welfare Fund.
The matter is currently under consideration before the Supreme Court.
- With inputs from agencies
