New Delhi: A day after news surfaced of another Indian national killed in Russia, India announced on Tuesday (January 14) that it had “strongly” raised the issue with Russian authorities and reiterated its demand for the release of the remaining Indian nationals serving with the Russian army.
Reports on Monday identified the deceased as 32-year-old Binil T.B., a resident of Wadakkanchery in Kerala’s Thrissur district. Binil had made repeated appeals to return home over the last several months. He died on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war. His relative, 27-year-old Jain T.K., was injured in the same attack Binil was killed in.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed Binil’s death and Jain’s injury, noting that Jain is receiving treatment at a hospital in Moscow.
Jaiswal stated that the Indian embassy is in touch with their families and working with Russian authorities to facilitate the early repatriation of Binil’s mortal remains. Efforts are also underway to secure the prompt return of the injured individual to India.
Additionally, the MEA reiterated its demand for the return of all Indians working with the Russian army.
“The matter has been strongly taken up with Russian authorities in Moscow as well as the Russian embassy in New Delhi. We have also reiterated our demand for the early discharge of the remaining Indian nationals,” Jaiswal said.
A few days ago, Binil’s family received a message that the two men had been injured in a drone attack. However, the family was unable to contact either Binil or Jain afterwards.
An Indian Express report revealed that Binil and Jain had been desperately attempting to return home for months. Binil had shared a series of voice messages with the publication last month, stating that their efforts to seek help from the Indian embassy in Moscow since September had been futile.
“Mentally and physically, we are exhausted,” Binil had said according to the report.
In his last message, he mentioned being forced to move to the frontlines of the war.
“We are now in difficult terrain in the Russia-occupied territory of Ukraine. Our commander says the contract was for a year. We have been pleading with local commanders for our release. The Indian embassy says that unless the Russian army relieves us, they cannot help. The embassy says we should be taken back to Russian territory,” he was quoted as saying.
In a parliamentary reply on December 6, 2024, the MEA disclosed that ten Indian nationals had died in Russia. Among them, two were from Uttar Pradesh, two from Gujarat, and one each from Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Kerala and Odisha. This is likely the 11th such death.
Six months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the plight of Indians in the Russian army with President Vladimir Putin. India claimed that Russia had then promised the early release of all such individuals.
In August, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar told parliament that the Indian government does not support Russia’s claim that these Indians knowingly entered into contracts with the Russian army.
The Russian embassy later stated that Moscow had not engaged in any recruitment efforts targeting Indian citizens and that, starting April 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence had ceased admitting citizens of several foreign countries, including India, into its armed forces.
