On Tuesday, India demanded that Russia release all Indians serving in its military after another citizen died on the frontlines of the conflict in Ukraine, bringing the total number of dead to ten.
According to the external affairs ministry, a Keralan Indian national was killed and another was hurt. Although it didn’t specify the cause of death, reports stated that Binil Babu, 31, a native of Kuttanellur in the Thrissur district, was killed during the conflict with Ukraine.
The release of all Indians working with Russian military troops as support personnel, including cooks and helpers, has been demanded on several occasions by the Indian side. After at least nine Indians were killed in Russia’s war with Ukraine, this became a major concern for New Delhi. During two encounters with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also brought up the issue.
Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for the external affairs ministry, stated, “We have learned of the unfortunate death of an Indian national from Kerala who had apparently been recruited to serve in the Russian Army. Another Indian national from Kerala, who was similarly recruited, has been injured and is receiving treatment in a hospital in Moscow.”
The issue was “strongly taken up” with Russian officials in Moscow and the Russian embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday, according to Jaiswal. Without providing information on the number of Indians presently serving in the Russian military, he stated, “We have also reiterated our demand for the early discharge of the remaining Indian nationals.”
Jaiswal continued, “We are collaborating with the Russian government to expedite the transfer of the deceased to India. We have also requested that the injured person be released as soon as possible and returned to India”.
The Indian embassy in Moscow is in contact with the families of the Indians serving in the Russian Army and is offering “all possible assistance,” the external affairs ministry stated, extending its condolences to the deceased man’s family.
In October of last year, Indian officials said that 85 Indians who had been enlisted in the Russian military had been released, and that 20 more were being worked toward.
The fact that Russia’s defense ministry had not revoked their military service contracts has delayed the release of several Indians serving in the Russian Army. According to the Russian embassy in New Delhi, the recruiting of Indians into Russia’s military was halted in April 2024 last year, and officials were making sure that those who “voluntarily contracted for military service” were released early.
Many Indians who were enlisted in the Russian military were allegedly “misled” or tricked by dishonest recruitment brokers, according to the Indian side. For their alleged involvement in recruiting Indians, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a criminal case against 19 people and organizations last year and made multiple arrests.
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