The Indian External Affairs Ministry (MEA) has repudiated claims from several reports regarding Indian nationals serving with the Russian military seeking discharge. The MEA clarified that every case reported to the Indian Embassy in Moscow had been vigorously pursued with Russian authorities, resulting in the discharge of several Indians. The ministry reassured its steadfast commitment to the issue, deeming the early discharge of Indian nationals from the Russian Army as a matter of top priority.
Last week, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed that India was in communication with Moscow to accelerate the process of discharging Indian nationals employed as support staff in the Russian army. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of Indian citizens avoiding the conflict zones in Ukraine for their safety. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi had previously appealed to the MEA to expedite the process of bringing these individuals back to India, raising concerns about their safety and the anxiety of their families.
On February 26, the MEA released an update confirming that following India’s efforts, several Indian nationals who were part of the Russian military as support staff had been discharged. The ministry reiterated the inaccuracy of reports about the plight of Indian nationals with the Russian army and confirmed that numerous Indians had been working as security helpers within the Russian military. It also re-emphasized the ministry’s full commitment to proactively work on the early discharge of Indian nationals from the Russian army.