MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the matter has been pursued with Russia at various levels, including at the top leadership level, and Moscow has responded positively to the request.

Russia-Ukraine War: As many as 50 Indian nationals who were recruited as “assistants” in the Russian army during the ongoing bloody conflict with Ukraine are seeking early release from service, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow last week.

“We are aware of about 50 Indian nationals who are currently seeking to terminate their employment in the Russian Armed Forces. These are cases where the individual or his/her family members have approached us for help in getting an early discharge,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly press conference on Friday.

Russia responded positively

Jaiswal said the matter has been pursued with Russia at various levels, including the top leadership, and Moscow has responded positively to the request.

“The Prime Minister raised this issue during his recent visit to Russia. The Russian side has responded positively to our request. Both sides are working for early release of Indian nationals,” he said.

A matter of 'grave concern'

Last month, the MEA had said the issue of Indian nationals serving in the Russian army was of “deep concern” and sought action from Moscow on it.

On June 11, India said that two Indian nationals recruited into the Russian army were recently killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, bringing the number of such deaths to four.

After the death of the two Indians, the MEA demanded a “verified stop” to further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian army.

In a strongly worded statement, India demanded a “verifiable halt to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian military and that such activities would not be “consistent with our partnership”.

In March, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammad Asfan died of injuries sustained while serving with the Russian army on the front line with Ukraine.

In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian airstrike while working as a “security aid” in the Donetsk region.

Prime Minister Modi was on a two-day visit to Russia on July 8 and 9.