MOSCOW: India’s embassy in Moscow has officially confirmed the death of a citizen recruited by the Russian army, marking a somber development amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The confirmation comes days after a relative informed news agency that the individual had been dispatched to fight in Ukraine as part of Moscow’s efforts to bolster its military presence in the region.
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine now spanning two years, the toll on its soldiers continues to mount, with tens of thousands reported killed in combat. Against this backdrop, Moscow has intensified its recruitment efforts, seeking additional combatants globally.
Last month, India’s foreign ministry acknowledged that it was actively engaged in efforts to secure discharges for approximately 20 Indian nationals who found themselves “stuck” in the Russian army.
While the circumstances surrounding Mohammed Afsan’s death were not disclosed by the embassy, it confirmed its communication with his family and Russian authorities, pledging to facilitate the repatriation of his mortal remains to India.
Afsan’s brother, Mohammed Imran, previously shared with AFP that Afsan had gone missing for nearly two months, having last contacted his family from Rostov-on-Don, revealing his deployment to the frontlines.
According to Imran, another Indian soldier who managed to escape recounted that Afsan, aged 30, had sustained injuries from a bullet while on duty.
This incident marks the first confirmed death of an Indian citizen serving with the Russian army, adding to the gravity of casualties arising from the conflict. Reports also emerged last month of a 23-year-old man from Gujarat state who lost his life in a Ukrainian airstrike while working as a “security helper.”
The recruitment process has come under scrutiny, with several Indian recruits alleging deception, having been enticed with promises of lucrative salaries and Russian citizenship before being thrust into combat roles in Ukraine, contrary to initial assurances of non-combatant duties.
