6 Nepalese soldiers serving in Russian army killed in war with Ukraine, Nepal demands compensation and repatriation
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry issued a press release on Monday evening, requesting the Russian government to repatriate the bodies of the six murdered youths to Nepal and provide compensation to the families of the deceased.
Russia Ukraine War: Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the conflict has continued since then. It has resulted in the deaths of countless soldiers and civilians and the destruction of property on a large scale. There are reports that both Russia and Ukraine have reportedly hired soldiers and fighters from outside to fight on their behalf. Now, on Monday, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry announced the death of six Nepali youth who were recruited into the Russian army and died in the ongoing war.
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry issued a press release on Monday evening, requesting the Russian government to repatriate the bodies of the six murdered youths to Nepal and provide compensation to the families of the deceased.
The release has identified the deceased as Pritam Karki (Syangja), Ganga Raj Moktan (Illam), Raj Kumar Karki (Dolakha), Rupak Karki (Kapilvastu), Dewan Rai (Kaski) and Sandeep Thapaliya (Gorkha).
The ministry further clarified that talks have started on the release of Bibek Khatri, a youth from Baridya who was imprisoned by Ukrainian forces. In a video circulating on social media, Khatri was filmed sitting in the Ukrainian army’s armored vehicle, where he identified himself as being from Nepal, along with other foreigners fighting on the Russian side.
The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated in its press release that Nepali citizens are not required to be recruited for military purposes except in India and the United Kingdom in accordance with the bilateral treaty.
“In this regard, the Russian government is hereby requested not to recruit Nepali citizens into the Russian army and if any Nepalese nationals were on board, to immediately repatriate them to Nepal,” the press release said.
With the formal start of the war between Ukraine and Russia, after Russia attempted to evade and conquer territories, Russia began to recruit foreigners into its army. According to the reports, recruits from abroad are promised a hefty sum and citizenship after a certain period of time.
Russia’s plan to recruit foreigners received overwhelming interest, for which Nepali youth also traveled to different parts of Europe and entered Russia for recruitment.
In Monday’s release, the ministry also appealed to the general public to travel to Russia only with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Ministry of Consular Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, excluding those who involved in government work, Russian government scholarships and people engaged in a profession or business.
The Russo-Ukrainian War is an ongoing international conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in February 2014. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists fighting the Ukrainian army in the Donbas War. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and began occupying more of the country.
Starting in 2021, Russia built up a large military presence near the border with Ukraine, including in neighboring Belarus. Russian officials repeatedly denied plans to attack Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized NATO’s expansion and demanded that Ukraine be excluded from joining the military alliance. He also expressed irredentist views and questioned Ukraine’s right to exist.
(With ANI inputs)