NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday said two of its citizens, who were recruited into the Russian army, have been killed in the recent Russia-Ukraine conflict, taking the number of such deaths to four.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India has strongly taken up the matter with Russia and sought the early release and return of all Indian nationals accompanying the Russian military.
In a strongly worded statement, it said India demanded a "verifiable moratorium on further recruitment of Indian citizens by the Russian military" and that such activities would not be "consistent with our partnership".
"We are saddened to inform that two Indian nationals recruited into the Russian Army have been killed in the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine," the Ministry of External Affairs said.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” it said.“Our Embassy in Moscow has pressed Russian authorities, including the Defense Ministry, to expeditiously return the mortal remains.”
In March this year, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan died of injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the front lines with Ukraine.
In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, 23, from Surat, Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian airstrike while serving as a "security assistant" in the Donetsk region.
"The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and the Russian authorities in Moscow respectively for the prompt release and return of all Indian nationals involved in the Russian military." Foreign Ministry said.
The External Affairs Ministry's statement came hours after Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra attended the Russian National Day reception at the Russian Embassy.According to reports, around 200 Indian citizens were recruited as security assistants in the Russian Army.
According to officials, a total of 10 Indians working as support staff with the Russian Army have been released and flown back to India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India has strongly taken up the matter with Russia and sought the early release and return of all Indian nationals accompanying the Russian military.
In a strongly worded statement, it said India demanded a "verifiable moratorium on further recruitment of Indian citizens by the Russian military" and that such activities would not be "consistent with our partnership".
"We are saddened to inform that two Indian nationals recruited into the Russian Army have been killed in the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine," the Ministry of External Affairs said.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” it said.“Our Embassy in Moscow has pressed Russian authorities, including the Defense Ministry, to expeditiously return the mortal remains.”
In March this year, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan died of injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the front lines with Ukraine.
In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, 23, from Surat, Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian airstrike while serving as a "security assistant" in the Donetsk region.
"The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and the Russian authorities in Moscow respectively for the prompt release and return of all Indian nationals involved in the Russian military." Foreign Ministry said.
The External Affairs Ministry's statement came hours after Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra attended the Russian National Day reception at the Russian Embassy.According to reports, around 200 Indian citizens were recruited as security assistants in the Russian Army.
According to officials, a total of 10 Indians working as support staff with the Russian Army have been released and flown back to India.
