51 Indias killed in Russian Army, 139 discharged; MEA says talks on with Moscow

New Delhi witnessed a grim situation on Monday as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported that 139 out of 227 Indian nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces had been discharged, while 51 had lost their lives. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri disclosed these figures during a briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kyrgyzstan.

The issue of Indian nationals being enlisted in the Russian army had been raised with Russia on multiple occasions, Misri added. He informed that the MEA remains engaged with Moscow to ensure the early discharge and return of the remaining Indian nationals whose cases are still pending.

"The Indian Embassy in Moscow is regularly monitoring the situation and working with Russian authorities to facilitate the release and repatriation of these Indian citizens," Misri stated. India is seeking to ensure that those still serving are discharged at the earliest and returned to their families.

This development comes amidst the backdrop of a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Bishkek. During the talks, Modi emphasized the need for the world to move away from an era of "endless wars" towards the "end of war". The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation and global developments.

In addition to the ongoing discussions on the issue of Indian nationals in the Russian army, the MEA also mentioned plans for expanding bilateral trade between the two countries. An Indian Exporters Forum would be organized alongside the next annual summit in Russia to encourage Indian businesses to increase exports to the Russian market.