51 Indians Recruited Into Russian Army Have Died, Says Foreign Secretary

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has revealed that 51 Indian nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces have died, while 139 have been discharged. The disclosure came during a briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kyrgyzstan.

Misri stated that India has information about 227 Indian nationals who were recruited into the Russian army. Of these, 139 have been discharged, and tragically, 51 have perished. He emphasised that New Delhi remains in constant discussions with Moscow regarding the release and repatriation of the remaining individuals.

The issue, Misri noted, has been raised between India and Russia at various levels on multiple occasions. The Indian Embassy in Moscow is closely monitoring the situation and is in talks with the Russian side to ensure the earliest possible discharge of any remaining cases.

In a related development, Misri also addressed India-Russia trade ties. He mentioned plans to organise an Indian Exporters Forum at the next annual summit in Russia, following the success of a Russian Importers Forum held in India. He added that President Vladimir Putin had specifically welcomed this initiative.

The Foreign Secretary's remarks came alongside a meeting between PM Modi and President Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek. During their talks, PM Modi advocated for a global shift from an era of conflict to one of peace, reaffirming the strength of the India-Russia strategic partnership.