The Indian government has informed the Lok Sabha that only 19 Indian nationals are currently serving in the Russian armed forces, following the discharge of most of their compatriots. This information was shared by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written response to a parliamentary query.
The query sought details regarding the number of Indian nationals recruited to serve in the Russian Army, their repatriation status, and the reasons for any delays in their release despite assurances from Russian authorities. It also inquired whether these Indian nationals were deployed on the war front and if the Indian mission was able to maintain contact with them.
In his response, Singh stated, “As a result of concerted efforts by the government, most of the Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces have been discharged and several have been repatriated to India.” He confirmed that “currently only 19 Indian nationals remain in the Russian armed forces.”
The government has reached out to the relevant Russian authorities to obtain updates on the status of the remaining Indian nationals and to ensure their safety, well-being, and early discharge from service.
