NEW DELHI: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed the deaths of 12 Indian nationals and reported 16 others as missing while serving in the Russian army during the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, the foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “As of today, we have recorded 126 cases involving Indians who were either serving in the Russian armed forces or associated with them. Of these, 12 have been killed, 16 are missing, and 18 are still actively serving.”
The issue came to light after the recent death of Binil T.B., a 32-year-old from Kerala, who was killed in a drone attack. Another Indian, Jain T.K., was injured in the same incident.
Binil’s family had reportedly received a message about his injuries, but efforts to contact him were unsuccessful. His case highlights the growing concern over Indians being recruited into foreign armies.
In August 2024, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Parliament that a total of 91 Indian nationals had been recruited into the Russian army.
Of these, eight had died, 14 had returned with government assistance, and 69 were awaiting release at that time.
Binil T.B. is the second individual from Kerala to die in combat. In August 2023, Sandeep, a resident of Thrissur, was also killed in a drone strike while serving for Russia.
The Indian Express reported that it had previously received voice messages from Binil, expressing frustration over the lack of assistance from the Indian embassy in Moscow.
The MEA spokesperson assured that efforts are underway to bring back Binil’s remains and those of other deceased nationals. “We are actively engaging with Russian authorities to expedite the release and repatriation of affected individuals,” Jaiswal said.
India’s inability to prevent its citizens from participating in foreign wars has sparked criticism. Despite the Modi government’s official stance of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reports of Indian nationals fighting for Russia contradict this position.
The government has intensified its diplomatic efforts to address the issue. However, the trend raises broader questions about India’s role in discouraging its citizens from becoming embroiled in international conflicts.
