NEW DELHI (AP) — India said Wednesday it has urged Russia to return Indian nationals recruited by the Russian military after two were recently killed in the war in Ukraine.
“I want to assure you that the Indian government has taken the matter very seriously,” Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters.
On Tuesday evening, India’s Foreign Ministry said it was in contact with Russian authorities to arrange the repatriation of the remains of the two Indians. Two other Indians died in fighting in Ukraine earlier this year.
India has avoided voting against Russia at the United Nations or criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. India views Russia as a proven Cold War-era ally with cooperation in defense, oil, nuclear energy and space exploration.
India earlier said its authorities were in talks with Russia over the return of its citizens who they said were tricked into working for the Russian military. The federal investigation agency said it had broken up a human trafficking network that lured people to Russia on the pretext of giving them jobs, sending at least 35 Indians through agents.
Sri Lanka and Russia held talks last month to resolve the issue of Sri Lankans fighting alongside the Russians in the war against Ukraine after at least 16 people were reported missing. The South Asian island nation said its citizens had been tricked into traveling to Russia with promises of good salaries and perks, including Russian citizenship.
Nepal asked Russia in January to return hundreds of Nepalese nationals recruited to fight against Ukraine. At least fourteen Nepalese have been killed in Ukraine.
