Moscow: After PM Modi’s visit to the country, a senior Russian official said on Wednesday that Moscow never wanted Indians to be in its army fighting Ukraine war, Scroll reported.
Meanwhile, Russia promised to release immediately 35 to 50 Indian nationals serving in the Russian military.
Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin made it clear that ‘we have never wanted Indians to be part of the Russian Army’, adding ‘You would never see any announcement by Russian authorities on this.’
Indians, Babushkin claimed, were mostly hired as support staffers, adding that they were working illegally arriving in the country on tourist visas.
As the war in Ukraine continues, it has emerged recently that dozens of Indians stranded in Russia were seeking help to return home
During his visit to Russia, PM Modi raised the matter with the Russian President Vladmir Putin, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra confirmed on Tuesday.
‘The prime minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army,” Kwatra was quoted as saying, adding ‘the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian Army.’