On 2 January, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially confirmed the death of three additional Nepali citizens serving in the Russian army, which brings the total count of Nepali fatalities in the Russia-Ukraine war to ten, the Katmandu Post reports.
The media outlet notes that It is believed that an estimated 200 Nepalis continue to serve in various roles within the Russian Army despite the Nepal government’s advisory against risking lives in Russia’s war.
In an interview with the Nepalese state-owned National News Agency, the country’s Foreign Minister NP Saud indicated that the actual number could surpass these estimates. He mentioned that the ministry has received reports of approximately 100 Nepali soldiers in the Russian army who are either missing or injured in confrontations while battling Ukrainian forces.
Nepal has consistently urged the Russian government not to enlist Nepali citizens in the Russian army and to promptly repatriate any Nepali nationals who have already been recruited, but the repatriation of these individuals has not occurred as of yet.
Earlier, Nepalese law enforcers arrested 10 individuals involved in a human smuggling ring, deceiving young people into recruitment into the Russian armed forces.
Amid high casualty rates in the Russian army, Russia has been recruiting mercenaries from various countries, including Cuba, Serbia, and Central-Asian countries.
Read also:
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- Ukraine MoD: Russia recruits Cuban mercenaries for fighting against Ukraine
- Cuba accuses Russia of recruiting its nationals to fight against Ukraine
- British intel: Russia recruits women for combat roles in Ukraine