Unemployment in India: Indian youth forced to join Russian army
49 Indian youth killed in Russia-Ukraine war, admits Indian govt
New Delhi: The Indian government has admitted that 217 Indian youth have joined the Russian army during the Russia-Ukraine war and 49 Indians have lost their lives in the war.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Butt, representing the Indian government, has submitted a status report in the Indian Supreme Court.
The report was submitted before a bench headed by the Chief Justice, which was hearing a petition demanding the government to take steps for the safe return of 26 Indian citizens who were arrested in Russia and forced to fight in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
The report said according to the latest information available with the Ministry of External Affairs, about 217 Indian citizens have joined the Russian army. The government has released 139 Indians under the agreement to join the Russian army.
According to the report, 49 Indian citizens have lost their lives in this war. In addition, Russia has confirmed the disappearance of six Indian citizens, while there is no information about 23.
The report says that to facilitate the search for the missing and the identification of their bodies, DNA reports of close family members of 21 people have been collected and sent to the Russian authorities.
It says that out of the 26 people mentioned, 14 cases are related to reported deaths, while 11 of them have been reported by the Russian authorities as missing in action or have not yet been contacted by their families.
It said some Indian nationals signed contracts to voluntarily join the Russian army, lured by attractive salaries, which included an initial signing bonus of about US$5,000 and a monthly salary of about US$2,500.
The report said that they were also promised Russian citizenship, other social benefits and compensation of about US$168,000 after death.
