A total of 85 Indian citizens recruited in the Russian Army have been discharged so far amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry said on Monday that 85 Indian nationals have so far been released from the Russian army while Indian authorities are continuously working with their Russian counterparts for the release of 20 others.
Speaking to media persons, Mistry said that our information in this matter is that 20 Indian people are still there with the Russian army.
We are also working on their release soon. However, people familiar with the matter say that when PM Modi will reach the Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday to participate in the BRICS Summit, the release of the remaining Indians will also be discussed between PM Modi and Russian President Putin on the sidelines of the summit. hopefully.
The issue of Indians being recruited into the Russian army came into limelight when nine Indians died fighting on the front lines in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Later, a video of Indian people joining the Russian army also went viral in which they were pleading the government to take them out from there.
PM Modi had also raised this issue with Russian President Putin at the annual India-Russia summit in Moscow, following which the release and repatriation of Indian citizens serving as support staff, such as cooks and assistants, in Russian military units. Had pie.
The Foreign Secretary said that so far 85 Indians have returned home from Russia. Unfortunately we also found the remains of some people who lost their lives during this war. We are continuously putting pressure on Russian negotiators for the release of the remaining 20 people, we hope that they too will return home soon.
Hindustan Times, while publishing a report in September itself, had said that after the release of 85 Indians, the Russian Army had put a hold on the release of the remaining Indians because the Russian Defense Ministry had not canceled their military service contracts.
On this matter, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi had said in August that the recruitment of Indian citizens in the Russian Army was stopped in April.
Russian officials are also working on releasing Indians who are voluntarily serving in the army.
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