On Wednesday, Russia expressed hopes for a speedy resolution to the issue raised by India regarding the return of Indians enlisted as support staff in the Russian military, describing the recruitment as purely a commercial affair.
At a media briefing, Roman Babushkin, the Russian Deputy Chief of mission, stated that Moscow never wanted Indians to become a part of its army and emphasized that their presence in the conflict is negligible. Responding to a question, he said, 'We stand with the Indian government on this matter and are hopeful for a prompt resolution.'
'The matter should not be politicized,'
stated Babushkin.
Babushkin's remarks come during a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 'firmly' raised this issue in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Russia has promised to ensure the swift release and return of Indian citizens working as support staff in the Russian forces.
Babushkin insisted that the matter should not be politicized, affirming, 'Let's be absolutely clear, we never intended for Indians to be a part of the Russian army. You would have never seen any announcement from Russian officials regarding this.'
'We did not want to recruit them,'
said the Russian diplomat, indicating that most Indians were hired under commercial structures motivated by 'earning money.' He claimed that the number of Indians – be it 50, 60, or 100 – is irrelevant in the context of the conflict.
He explained, 'They are there entirely for business reasons, and we did not intend their recruitment. Most of the Indians enlisted as support staff are working illegally since they do not possess the appropriate visa for employment. Many of them came to Russia on tourist visas.'
PM Modi raises issue with Putin
PM Modi discussed this issue during his informal conversation with President Putin at the latter’s residence over dinner on Monday evening. Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that the matter of Indian citizens serving in the Russian military remains a subject of 'utmost concern' and demanded action from Moscow.
Reports suggest that the safe return of Indians included in the Russian army for the Ukraine conflict is likely to happen soon. Sources claim that PM Modi addressed the issue with President Putin after arriving in Moscow on Monday. Subsequently, a consensus on the return of Indian soldiers was reached.
About 30-40 Indians serving in the Russian army
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there are currently about 30 to 40 Indians serving in the Russian forces. Previous reports indicated these individuals wished to return to India but found it impossible to leave the Russian army and repatriate. Efforts by the Indian government for their safe return did not receive any assurance from Russia. Thus, securing their return was a high priority during PM Modi's visit to Russia. It’s noteworthy that two Indians have lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, prompting India to demand the return of its nationals enrolled in the Russian forces.
