Russia-Ukraine War

Russia’s use of South Asian fighters in the Ukraine war

Though far removed from the Ukraine conflict, Krishna Maya (name changed), a farmer from Nepal's Kavre district, has for the past 9 months endured a traumatic fallout: the capture and continuing detainment of her 22-year-old son, Ritesh (name changed), by Ukrainian forces, following his trip to Russia (for higher studies) in September 2023 and his forcible conscription into the Russian army. This is a recurring narrative across nations in addition to Nepal, as young men from South Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have been similarly recruited into the Russian army for its war against Ukraine, lured and duped by promises of high salaries, Russian citizenship and other benefits.

Data discrepancy

There is a dearth of precise data in South Asia with respect to the numbers of its recruits and casualties in the war in Ukraine. For example, in Nepal's  case, its embassy in Moscow reports 35 deaths, while Kritu Bhandari (leader of the 'Campaign for Protecting the Lives of Nepalese Youth Enlisted in the Russian Army-2080') pegs the numbers at 52 deaths, 274 missing and 117 injured out of 699 documented soldiers. The discrepancies mount as Nepalese media reports that at least 25 Nepalese have officially died fighting for the Russian Army.  This figure is again challenged by the affected families who claim that at least 39 Nepalese have been killed in action. Similarly, Irina Kravtsova, a Russian journalist tied to Novaya Gazeta Europa, who has actively been following the stories of these soldiers, estimates there are about 1,000 Nepalese in the Russian Army. Such discrepancies at multiple levels primarily suggest the informal nature of recruitments, the secretive nature of migration and unreliable links between Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 'Campaign for Protecting the Lives of Nepalese Youth Enlisted in the Russian Army-2080'.

The reported unofficial number of Indians fighting in Ukraine was estimated to be about 100, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in March 2024 reported that 35 Indian men were duped into traveling to Russia and fighting in the war in Ukraine. Later, in August,  External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reported to the Lok Sabha on August 9, 2024, that a total of 91 Indian nationals have been recruited into the Russian Army. Of these, 8 have lost their lives, 14 have been discharged, and the remaining 69 individuals are currently awaiting discharge from the Russian military. Moreover, Indian young men are also attracted by the seemingly high salaries and the promise of residency (after the completion of the contract) in labor and skills-scarce countries. Across India, families echo similar stories from men who went abroad for work. They were promised jobs as cooks or housekeepers in Russia but were instead forced to fight in the war against Ukraine.

Likewise, thousands of Sri Lankans have fallen victim to job scams including offers to fight as mercenaries in the Russia–Ukraine war. Sri Lanka declares that around 280 citizens were recruited to fight on both sides of the war. State Minister of Defense Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon suspects a foreign country is fronting an "illegal job hub" to beguile Sri Lankans into becoming combatants in the Ukraine conflict. The embassy lacks sufficient information to confirm these reports or the status of Sri Lankans involved. Tennakoon reported that 16 retired Sri Lankan military personnel were killed during the war.

Trap of human traffickers

Additionally, organized human traffickers have recruited hundreds of financially vulnerable youths into the Russian armed forces. Evidence suggests international trafficking networks are enlisting South Asian youths into the Russian Army. Those who have returned to Nepal report paying between 700,000 and 1,000,000 Nepali rupees to traffickers for these fraudulent job opportunities.

This situation is also prevalent in India. Randhir Jaiswal, from the Ministry of External Affairs of India, reported that on March 8, 2024 the Central Bureau of Investigation dismantled a major human trafficking network, leading to multiple arrests. The Bureau revealed that at least 35 Indian men were sent to Russia by agents who recruited them via social media and local contacts, trained them for combat and forced them into the Russia–Ukraine war, with some suffering serious injuries. In his speech at the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also highlighted the existence of multiple trafficking networks involved in this illicit activity.

In Sri Lanka, police investigations revealed that human traffickers sent 60 Sri Lankans to Russia and 23 to Ukraine for the war. Harendra Jayakantha, ASP of the Criminal Investigation Department's Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Maritime Crimes Division, reported that over 100 members of the Sri Lankan security forces have illegally joined the conflict.

Failed diplomatic efforts

Incompetence in diplomatic efforts from affected countries has impeded the determination of the number of casualties and repatriation of recruited South Asian nationals. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Nepal, which has been the most affected South Asian country in terms of recruitment into the Russian Army, has had three consecutive governments, all of which have struggled with international diplomacy. The Nepali Ministry of Foreign Affairs' efforts to halt Nepalese recruitment, repatriate bodies, compensate families and treat the injured have so far yielded no successes. Meetings between Nepali Foreign Ministers and Russian Ambassador Aleksei Novikov have also failed to produce results.

Sri Lanka is also struggling to repatriate citizens fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, many (about 96%) having applied for Russian citizenship. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry stated that the Sri Lankan government had no role in their departure, the recruits having left without official approval. The government has engaged in negotiations twice this year to bring them back at the request of their families. It is apparent that the situation in Sri Lanka is different than that of other South Asian countries; Sri Lankan recruits were drawn to the prospect of Russian citizenship, in contrast to recruits from other nations for whom a lucrative salary was the lure. Small states' unsuccessful diplomatic efforts remain the primary obstacle to the release of their citizens and the determination of the real number of fighters from their lands.

Unlike Nepal and Sri Lanka, India, however, managed to arrive at an agreement with Russia for the release of its citizens. Russia decided to release and facilitate the return of all Indian nationals working with the Russian Army following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's discussion with President Putin during his visit to Moscow. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed this development in his speech at the Lok Sabha on August 9, 2024.

The way forward

South Asian countries must crack down on human trafficking networks and, as a means of deterrence, provide accurate portrayals of the realities and trafficking dangers currently inherent to traveling to Russia. Diplomatic efforts should be maintained with Russia as well as Ukraine to facilitate the return of South Asian citizens and captured South Asian fighters and halt recruitment. Since many South Asian fighters are viewed as mercenaries in Ukraine, a bilateral legal agreement is necessary to ensure these individuals are treated according to the law. On the multilateral front, a regional response mediated through SAARC could be considered for civilian rescue and compensation. Despite SAARC's inactivity, its previous engagement with Russia during COVID-19 suggests it could address the issue by means of effective diplomatic bargaining.