The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that 16 Indian nationals deployed by the Russian Army in Ukraine are missing, while 12 have been killed so far.

The statement came after India’s renewed call for the early discharge of Indian nationals from the Russian Army after the death of a man from Kerala in Ukraine. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2024, thousands of foreign nationals have been recruited to fight including several from India.

Addressing the media, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed the death of Binil Babu as ’extremely unfortunate’. “We have conveyed our condolences to the family. Our embassy is in touch with the Russian authorities so that his mortal remains could come back to India as soon as possible,” he said.

Jaiswal said that as of today, there have been 126 cases (of Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army). Of these 126 cases, 96 people have returned to India and have been discharged from the Russian Armed Forces, he added.

“18 Indian nationals in the Russian Army remain and out of them the whereabouts of 16 individuals are not known. The Russian side has categorised them as missing…We are seeking early release and repatriation of those who remain…12 Indian nationals have died who were serving in the Russian Army,” he said.

Russia has deployed as many as 55-60,000 foreign fighters in the war on Ukraine, according to various estimates. According to media reports, these fighters belong to multiple nationalities such as Indian, Nepali, Ghanian and Yemeni etc.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had strongly raised the issue of early discharge of the Indian nationals working in the Russian Army during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in July last year.

In October last year, Indian officials said 85 Indian nationals have been discharged from the Russian military and efforts are on to secure the release of 20 more.

In August 2024, the Russian embassy said Moscow and New Delhi are working in close coordination for an early “identification and discharge” of the Indian nationals who voluntarily joined contractual work in the military service and now want to return home.

Since April last year, the ministry of defence of the Russian Federation had stopped recruiting citizens of a number of foreign countries, including India, into the military service, it had said.

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In Russia-Ukraine war, 16 Indians ‘missing’ while 12 confirmed dead: MEA