Nepal disclosed on Monday that six of its citizens had died while serving in the Russian army as mercenaries, and one had been taken captive in Ukraine, affirming the involvement of Nepali nationals in Moscow’s invasion.
Kathmandu called upon Russia to halt the deployment of Nepali mercenaries and repatriate any individuals still engaged in such service.
The Foreign Ministry of Nepal confirmed the demise of the six citizens during their service in the Russian army and identified another citizen currently detained in Ukraine after being recruited into the Russian army.
The ministry, however, did not provide details regarding the circumstances, location, or timing of the deaths.
This development follows Nepal’s earlier cautionary advisory in August, urging its citizens to refrain from participating in security-related roles in conflict-ridden nations.
“The Nepali government has formally requested the Russian government to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased citizens’ remains to Nepal and to provide compensation to the families of the victims,” stated the ministry.
Additionally, Nepal has urged the Russian government to abstain from recruiting Nepali citizens and to promptly repatriate those who might have been recruited.
These revelations coincide with ongoing efforts by Russian forces to capture Avdiivka, an industrial town in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, which has emerged as a highly contested area on the frontline of the conflict.
Despite being situated over 5,350 kilometers away from the Ukrainian conflict, Nepal, a predominantly Hindu nation in the Himalayas, has citizens seeking employment abroad, with remittances constituting a significant part of the country’s economy—nearly a quarter of its GDP last year, ranking ninth globally according to the World Bank.
