Video: Nepali Men Caught In Russia-Ukraine War Appeal to Indian Govt For Rescue – News18

Nepali men stranded in Russia have reached out to the Indian government in a viral video, claiming that they were deceived into working as helpers in the Russian army but are now coerced into fighting in the Ukraine conflict. The men were seen seeking refuge and imploring neighbouring India to intervene after failed attempts to seek help from the Nepalese Embassy in Moscow.

Dressed in combat attire, the soldiers said they were fraudulently recruited by agents and now seek repatriation to their home country. Underlining the robust relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu, they appealed for India’s support. “Three Indian brothers were fighting alongside us, but they have been rescued by India,” the Nepali men said. “Nepal’s embassy is not able to help us, that’s why we are appealing to the Indian government. Both countries share friendly ties. Your country has a powerful embassy. …There were 30 of us, now only 5 remain,” they added.

For the past few months, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry has sent two back-to-back diplomatic notes to Moscow seeking details on the status of the Nepali nationals serving in the Russian Army. It has been asking Russia to send back hundreds of its nationals who were recruited to fight against Ukraine and repatriate the bodies of those who died in the conflict.

For centuries, Nepali nationals were recruited by the British army to fight as famed Gurkha soldiers and later by India when it gained independence from Britain. That arrangement was made in 1816 after signing a treaty between Nepal and Britain. In an Associated Press interview in January, Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud revealed that Nepal is seeking monetary compensation from Russia for the families of those Nepali nationals who were killed in the fighting.

Last month, Moscow reportedly agreed to compensate the families of Nepalis killed during its war with Ukraine through the Nepali Embassy in Moscow. As many as 14 Nepali nationals have so far died in the war. However, officials and individuals still serving in the Russian Army or those who managed to escape fighting have claimed that the number of Nepali casualties could be much higher than reported, according to The Kathmandu Post. On the other side of the Himalayas, neighbouring India is facing a similar situation, where its citizens are being duped into fighting for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.

On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that New Delhi has strongly taken up with Moscow the matter concerning about 35 people who were sent to Russia in the dubious scheme. “Several Indian nationals have been duped to work in the Russian army. We have strongly taken up the matter for the early discharge of such Indian nationals, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a presser. “Strong action has been initiated against agents who recruited them on false pretexts,” he added. At least two men who went to Russia expecting to work as “helpers” in the army have died while fighting at the front.