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As galore arsenic 202 Indians are “believed to person been recruited into the Russian equipped forces” since 2022, and 26 of them are reported to person mislaid their lives, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Rajya Sabha connected Thursday (December 18, 2025), adding that astatine slightest 2 Indians person been cremated successful Russia.
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“Concerted efforts by the Government person resulted successful aboriginal discharge of 119 of them; 26 are reported to person mislaid their lives and 7 are reported missing by the Russian side. Efforts are ongoing for aboriginal discharge of 50 individuals,” Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh said successful a written reply.
Also Read | Families of Indians stuck successful Russian warzone accidental they past heard from them 50-days ago
The Union authorities remains continuously engaged with the Russian government, to guarantee the safety, well-being, and aboriginal discharge of each Indian nationals successful the Russian equipped forces, the Minister said. He added that the substance is being discussed astatine assorted levels, including during interactions betwixt leaders, Ministers, and officials of the 2 sides.
Mr. Singh was responding to a question by Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale and Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala connected the fig of Indian nationals identified arsenic illegally moving oregon forced to enactment successful the Russian Army, on with the number of fatalities and missing radical since 2022.
Also Read | 44 Indians serving successful Russian military; India erstwhile again urges Moscow to merchandise them
Repatriating the dead
On December 17, The Hindu reported that the bodies of 2 Indians killed successful the Russia-Ukraine warzone implicit the past 3 months had been brought to Delhi.
The deceased were identified arsenic Rajasthan nonmigratory Ajay Godara, 22, and Rakesh Kumar, 30, from Uttarakhand. Both Godara and Kumar had gone to Russia successful the past twelvemonth connected pupil visas, but were allegedly enlisted successful the Russian Army aft being misled by agents who promised them enactment arsenic cleaners and helpers. Indians proceed to beryllium enlisted successful the Russian Army contempt an assurance by Moscow successful 2024 that it longer admits Indians.
Also Read | Release Indians from Russian army, halt signifier of recruiting Indians, MEA tells Moscow
“The Ministry has provided assistance successful repatriation of mortal remains of 10 deceased Indian nationals to India, and section cremation of 2 deceased Indian nationals. DNA samples of household members of 18 Indians, who were reported dormant oregon missing, person been shared with the Russian authorities successful an effort to assistance found the individuality of immoderate of the deceased Indian nationals,” the Minister said successful his reply.
The MEA, on with the Indian Mission and Posts successful Russia, has assisted those Indians discharged from the Russian Army to instrumentality to India, “including done facilitation of question documents and providing aerial tickets, wherever required,” Mr. Singh said.
The Indian Mission successful Russia has besides assisted with the task of the evacuation of mortal remains. Once the mortal remains are shifted to a harmless zone, the recognition process involves the matching of DNA samples with the adjacent of kin, the Minister said. “When the individuality is conclusively established, the Indian Embassy assists successful completion of requisite documentation for section cremation oregon proscription of mortal remains to India, successful adjacent coordination with the family,” helium said successful his reply.
