Two Indians recruited by Russian military killed in Ukraine war

Two Indians recruited by the Russian Army lost their lives in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, India's foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that it had raised concerns with Moscow on the matter and had asked the authorities to immediately stop the recruitment of Indians in the Russian army.

It further said that the country had demanded for an early release and return of all Indian nationals recruited in the Russian military.

"The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow respectively, for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army," the ministry said in a statement.

"India has also demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of our nationals by the Russian Army. Such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership," the statement added.

The reports of men being recruited in the Russian army on the pretext of landing jobs in the foreign land had surfaced in March, to which the ministry had said that they were making efforts to bring the Indians back.

"We have an understanding that something like 20-odd people are stuck, we are trying our level best for their early discharge," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.

The ministry in April said that 10 Indian nationals who were working with the Russian army as support staffhad come back.

Reports highlighted that many Indians were recruited as security helpers in the Russian militaryand were forced to fight with Russian soldiers in certain areas along Russia's border with Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)