‘202 Indians hired for Russian armed forces’, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Approximately 202 Indians have been recruited into the Russian armed forces since 2022.
• 26 Indian recruits are reported dead, and 7 are missing, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• The Indian government has secured the discharge of 119 Indian nationals from the Russian military.
• Two deceased Indians were cremated in Russia, and the remains of 10 others have been repatriated to India.

Detailed Insights:

• The Indian government is actively engaged with Russia to ensure the safety and early release of Indian citizens serving in the Russian armed forces.
• Despite assurances from Moscow in 2024 that it would no longer recruit Indians, enlistments have continued.
• Some Indians were allegedly misled by agents promising jobs as cleaners and helpers but were instead enlisted in the Russian Army.
• The MEA has shared DNA samples of family members of 18 missing or deceased Indians with Russian authorities for identification purposes.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Recruitment: The process of enlisting individuals into military service.
• Repatriation: The process of returning someone to their own country.
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA): The government agency responsible for India's foreign relations.