NEW DELHI: Two days after India officially acknowledged that some Indians had signed up for support jobs in the Russian army, it is now reported that a 23-year-old Indian was killed in a drone attack in Ukraine.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has so far refrained from commenting on this incident. However, according to some reports, the 23-year-old Gujarati from Surat was killed in a drone attack in Donetsk close to Russia's border on February 21st.
The victim was identified as Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya.
The Russian Army has reportedly recruited over 100 Indians security helpers over the past year. Some of these new members have claimed they were treated unfairly.
Two days back, the MEA had acknowledged that they are aware of these recruitments.
“We know that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian Army. The Indian Embassy has regularly taken up this matter with the relevant Russian authorities for their early discharge,” said MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal.
In addition, India has urged its nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict.
Reportedly, the kin of many of these Indian nationals have said that foreign recruiters in Russia have duped their family members and have been forced to join the Wagner Group (a private military company).
The Wagner Group, known as PMC Wagner, is a Russian state-funded army earlier controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, close ally of Russian President Putin. Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash last year.
These troops have infrastructure support from the Russian army and troops are sent to fight in conflicts – like the ongoing one between Russia and Ukraine.
Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24, 2022. Russia's war in Ukraine has exacted a terrible human cost and inflicted suffering on millions, the United Nations rights chief said on February 22, ahead of the second anniversary of the invasion.