Centre Reports 217 Indians in Russian Military; 49 Fatalities Confirmed in Russia-Ukraine War

The Indian government has informed the Supreme Court that 217 Indian nationals enlisted in the Russian armed forces amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Out of these, 49 individuals have been reported dead, and six are currently listed as missing in action.

During a court session, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Ministry of External Affairs, stated that Indian authorities, in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Russia, are making concerted efforts to ensure the return of Indian nationals who have been discharged from military duties.

The case was reviewed by a bench presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant.

The government's statement revealed that 139 Indian nationals have been released from the Russian military, and steps are being taken to facilitate their repatriation. While Russian officials confirmed six Indians as missing, the status of 23 others remains unclear.

It was reported to the court that several Indians were allegedly enticed into joining the Russian military with the promise of lucrative financial incentives, offers of Russian citizenship, social security benefits, and compensation packages.

According to official submissions, the recruits were purportedly promised a signing bonus of around USD 5,000, monthly salaries up to USD 2,500, and compensation of approximately USD 168,000 in the event of death.

The government further revealed that two Indian students, Kishore Saravanan and Sahil Mahamadhusen Majothi, entered military contracts seeking amnesty while serving prison terms for drug-related offenses in Russia.

Officials noted that Saravanan was eventually released due to Indian government intervention, but he chose to remain in Russia and subsequently obtained Russian citizenship. Majothi reportedly surrendered to Ukrainian forces, and the Indian government is addressing the situation through diplomatic channels.

The government also informed the court that Indian authorities have been assisting in the processing of compensation claims for affected families. Among four claims submitted via the Indian Embassy, one family has already been compensated, while other claims filed independently have been processed by Russian authorities.

To aid in the identification of missing personnel and deceased individuals, DNA samples from the relatives of 21 people have been collected and shared with Russian authorities.

The government noted that recovering bodies from active conflict areas is currently not possible due to the ongoing war conditions.

The case has highlighted the complex issue of Indian nationals being drawn into foreign military conflicts and the diplomatic challenges involved in ensuring their safe return amid the continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.