From the DeskOn July 8, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be greeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at his official residence in Novo-Ogaryovo for a private engagement. PTI) According to reports, the war has resulted in the deaths of four Indians and the return of ten.
Sources said on Tuesday that Russia has decided to discharge and facilitate the return of all Indians fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine, a significant breakthrough achieved during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow. It is believed that 35-40 Indians are still stuck in Russia. According to the sources, PM Modi brought up the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their private dinner on Monday. This is Modi’s first visit to Russia, a long-standing ally, in February 2022, and it will last for two days. Modi last visited Russia in 2019, and the two leaders last met in Uzbekistan in 2022 at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
New Delhi is particularly concerned about the plight of Indians serving Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. Reports have surfaced in recent months about Indians who were tricked into fighting for the Russian army, which accepts recruits from other nations, after falling victim to job scams. One of these groups had even made a video and shared it on social media, pleading for help from the government. There have been reports that the war has resulted in the deaths of four Indians and the return of ten.
It is still believed that between 35 and 40 Indians are stranded in Russia. In the past, India’s Foreign Ministry stated that it is working hard to bring back recruits who were tricked by agents. India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has been working with Russia for the past few months to make progress on the issue, which he has described as a “very deep concern.” India has demanded the immediate release and return of all Indian nationals who have been recruited into the Russian army during a conflict, arguing that this is inconsistent with the diplomatic partnership between India and Russia.
India has also demanded that such hiring practices be stopped in the future. In such a background, the forward leap during PM Modi’s visit would be a significant help for the groups of the enlisted people actually trapped in Russia. In the Ukraine conflict earlier this year, it was reported that two Indians, Ashvinbhai Mangukiya and Mohammad Asfan, both from Gujarat, had been killed. In June, two more were said to have been killed.
Inika Manohar
