‘Actively pursuing’ cases of Indians seeking discharge from the Russian Army, says MEA

The ministry's statement follows a report that said that some Indians are working as support staff to the Russian army in the conflict zone of the Ukraine war and have been forced to fight alongside the Russian soldiers.

By: Express Web Desk

Bengaluru | Updated: February 26, 2024 09:22 AM IST

2 min read

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects military equipment captured by Russian troops in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, at a Russian military command centre in a location given as Russian-controlled Ukraine, in this picture released February 24, 2024. (Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters)

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that India is “actively pursuing” all the relevant cases of Indians in the Russian army seeking an early discharge and that several Indians have already been discharged as a result.

The ministry’s statement follows a report that said that some Indians are working as support staff to the Russian army in the conflict zone of the Ukraine war and have been forced to fight alongside the Russian soldiers. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi too had taken to X (formerly known as Twitter) last week, requesting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to bring back these men.

In a press release issued on the MEA website, the ministry said, “We have seen some inaccurate reports in the media regarding Indians with the Russian army seeking help for discharge.”

“Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities and those brought to the attention of the Ministry have been taken up with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. Several Indians have already been discharged as a result,” it said.

“We remain committed, as a matter of top priority, to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army,” the release added.

As The Indian Express had reported, Hemil Mangukiya, a 23-year-old Surat native had died in a missile strike in Russia on February 21. Mangukiya had been working as a “helper” in the country and had reportedly been “inducted into the war zone” on the Ukraine border.

Earlier on Friday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said in a press conference, “We are aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian army.” “We urge all Indian nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict,” he added.

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