Kathmandu, July 29: More than 100 Nepalis have been killed while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war after being recruited into the Russian army. Activist Kritu Bhandari, who has been campaigning to bring back Nepali nationals from Russia, said that families of at least 113 deceased individuals have already performed last rites in Nepal. "The number is increasing," she warned.

So far, families of 699 Nepalis have submitted details to Bhandari, requesting help in bringing their relatives back. She has been organizing data through online groups of Nepalis who joined the Russian army, those injured, or killed. These groups have over 3,400 active members, giving a rough estimate of how many may have enlisted.

Bhandari noted that 257 Nepalis are currently missing, with no contact made with their families. In desperation, some families have even traveled to Russia to confirm deaths or locate the missing. Meanwhile, around 290 Nepalis have returned, but at least 40 of them are believed to have gone back to Russia.

She expressed concern over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent statement to recruit 160,000 more foreign fighters by December 2026, which may tempt more Nepalis to rejoin. Already, 140 Nepalis are known to have acquired Russian citizenship.

Nepal’s Consular Department confirmed 71 deaths officially, while 40 to 50 more are still under verification. Families of 349 Nepalis have submitted requests to the department to facilitate their return. DNA samples of 40 individuals have been sent to Russia to confirm deaths, but not a single body has been returned, and compensation for deaths and injuries remains largely unpaid.

Although some families have traveled to Russia to collect compensation — receiving amounts as high as 2–3 crore rupees — activist Bhandari criticized the government's inaction in facilitating such payouts in Nepal. “The government should have ensured compensation delivery at home. Sending grieving families to Russia was a serious misstep,” she said.

The war began on February 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Facing manpower shortages, Russia started enlisting foreign nationals, including Nepalis. However, Nepal lacks a clear record of how many have joined the Russian army.

Despite repeated diplomatic notes and requests from Nepal for Russia to halt recruitment, return bodies, and provide compensation, Russia has largely ignored them. Initially, Nepal denied Nepali involvement, but officially acknowledged it only after multiple deaths surfaced.

The first confirmed death was Sandip Thapaliya of Gorkha, killed in July 2023 in Bakhmut, Ukraine. Russia refused to return his body, and he was buried there. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Nepali enlistment only after receiving reports from its embassy in Moscow.

Nepal has since imposed stricter travel rules. Now, any Nepali traveling to Russia must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Consular Department. The policy has also extended to those traveling via other countries like India, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Despite restrictions, Nepalis continue to be recruited — and killed — in a war far from home.

People’s News Monitoring Service