We never wanted Indians to be part of our army: Russia

He said that most of the Indians were recruited under a commercial framework as they wanted to “make money”.

Stating that the small number of Indians — 50, 60 or 100 people — does not make any significance in terms of the wider conflict, Babushkin said, “They are there purely for commercial reasons and we did not want to recruit them.”

Babushkin said most of the Indians recruited as support staff are working illegally as they do not have appropriate visas to work and most of them came to Russia on tourist visas.

When asked if the families of those killed would be given compensation and Russian citizenship, Babushkin said that it should happen as per the contractual obligations.

He also said that they are hoping for quick resolution of the issue relating to India’s call for return of Indians recruited in the Russian Army as support staff. “We are on the same side with the Indian government on the issue…” he said at a media briefing while responding to a question. He said that the issue should not be politicised.

His remarks come after Russia promised to ensure early release and return of the Indian nationals working in the Russian military as support staff after Prime Minister Narendra Modi “very strongly” raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra had said in Moscow Tuesday that the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian Army. So far, about 35 to 50 Indian nationals are said to be part of the Russian Army, according to Kwatra, and 10 have already come back. Four Indian nationals have been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“The PM strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army… the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals,” he said, adding that the two sides will work on how the Indian nationals can be brought back home expeditiously.

It is learnt that Modi raised the issue during his informal talks with Putin over dinner at the Russian leader’s dacha or country home Monday evening.