Supreme Court Orders MEA to Publicise Compensation Claims for Families of Indians Killed in Russian Army
The Supreme Court of India has asked the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to issue a public notice inviting compensation claims from the families of Indian nationals who died while serving in the Russian armed forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, after the government told the court that only six families had approached authorities despite 51 reported deaths.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the direction while hearing a petition concerning Indians who travelled to Russia and later found themselves linked to the Russian military. The court also asked the MEA to assist affected families in securing compensation from Russian authorities and to place on record the amounts fixed by Moscow as well as the sums actually paid out.
According to the MEA’s latest status report, around 267 Indian nationals joined the Russian armed forces. Of them, 139 have been discharged with the help of diplomatic efforts led by the Indian Embassy in Moscow, 51 have died, and the whereabouts of 77 remain unknown. Russian authorities have confirmed seven of those 77 as missing.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the bench that the Russian government had processed six compensation claims so far, of which five were settled in full and one partially. The court took note of that update and directed that the affected families should be made aware of their entitlement to compensation.
The bench also ordered District Legal Services Authorities in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, along with references in related proceedings to other states, to provide free legal aid to families pursuing claims. That assistance is to cover the filing of compensation applications, DNA tests to identify mortal remains, and the completion of other legal and administrative formalities. The court noted that delays in DNA-based identification and repatriation of bodies have remained a recurring problem.
The case, Divya & Ors. v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 451 of 2026, was filed by family members of Indians, largely from Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, who travelled to Russia between 2024 and 2025 on various visas.
In the petition, the families alleged that many of the men were misled by recruitment agents who promised civilian jobs in areas such as construction, hospitality and services. According to the petitioners, the recruits’ passports and other documents were taken away after arrival in Russia, after which they were enrolled in the Russian armed forces and sent to front-line positions.
The Supreme Court has already passed earlier directions in the matter, including the appointment of a nodal officer, compulsory DNA testing of mortal remains before handover, and assistance with compensation-related procedures.
The MEA, meanwhile, has repeatedly cautioned Indian citizens against joining the Russian military, warning of the mortal risks involved. A September 30, 2026 advisory specifically referred to cases in which some individuals reportedly sought recruitment voluntarily for financial incentives, including signing bonuses, with the hope that they could later obtain release through intervention by the Indian government.
The government has also said that some of the cases involved attempts by individuals to renounce Indian citizenship in favour of Russian passports. It has maintained that it continues to engage Russian authorities to secure the discharge and repatriation of the remaining nationals while helping families of the deceased and missing.
The court’s latest directions are aimed at widening awareness of compensation rights and speeding up the paperwork required by affected families, even as diplomatic efforts continue to establish the fate of the untraced Indian nationals. The matter remains pending before the Supreme Court for further updates on compensation payments and the status of those still unaccounted for.
