Ten Indians whose families are seeking their release from Russian Army have died: Centre tells SC

The Union government on Friday said that of the 26 Indians whose families had moved the Supreme Court seeking their safe return from Russia, 10 have died while fighting the war in Ukraine, reported Live Law.

Most of them had joined the Russian military voluntarily, the Centre claimed.

In December, the Union government told Parliament that 26 Indian citizens, of the 206 believed to have been recruited into the Russian military, had been killed. Seven Indians were missing, Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh had said.

The external affairs ministry has repeatedly issued advisories warning Indian citizens against joining the Russian military. New Delhi contends that many are duped by unscrupulous agents and are often hired as support staff, such as cooks and helpers, amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

On Friday, a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi was hearing petitions by the family members of 26 Indians who were allegedly forced to fight the war in Ukraine.

The families said that the Indian citizens had gone to Russia in search of jobs, reported Live Law.

During the hearing, the petitioners alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs had not contacted the family members...

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