Nepal reports seven more deaths of citizens serving in Russian army conflict with Ukraine; toll reaches 19

The Foreign Affairs ministry of Nepal has reported that seven additional Nepalese citizens, who were serving in the Russian Army during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, have lost their lives in the past week.

This brings the total number of Nepalese casualties in the conflict to 19. The update from the Ministry comes following Deputy Prime Minister Kaji Shrestha’s request to Russia for a list of Nepalese citizens serving in the Russian Army in the war zone.

However, complications persist in arranging for the return of these individuals from the conflict area. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha recently met with the Russian Ambassador to Nepal, Aleksei Novikov, to discuss this matter further.

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In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the deaths of seven more Nepali nationals who were fighting from the Russian side in the Russia-Ukraine war.

“With the deaths of 7 more Nepalese citizens with the Russian Army, the total number of such cases have touched 19,” said the statement.

The ministry said that the deaths of Nepali nationals in the Russian Army come even as the Nepal government has banned the recruitment of Nepali nationals in foreign armies except for those countries with whom Nepal has signed a traditional agreement.

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The ministry has extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in Ukraine.

The ministry said it has once again requested the Russian government to provide compensation to the kin of deceased soldiers, to provide treatment to those injured in the war and to repatriate those recruited illegally into the Russian Army.

Nepal government has placed top priority on the works relating to repatriating those Nepalese nationals who have been recruited into the Russian Army, the ministry said.

Hundreds of Nepali citizens are reported fighting for the Russians against Ukraine. A small number of Nepali citizens are serving in the Ukrainian Army too, but both conflicting nations have not shared the details with the government of Nepal.

On March 7, Shrestha held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and raised the concerns of the Nepali side.

Shrestha also reportedly said that he wants to visit Russia and take stock of the condition of the Nepali nationals in Russia.

He said he is keen to know how Nepali nationals were duped and brought to Russia and talk to Russian officials to resolve the issue.

With inputs from PTI