Desperate Search: Nepali Families Seek missing kin Recruited by Russian Military in Ukraine
Kathmandu, nepal – The Plight Of Nepali Families Desperately Seeking Information About Their Loved Ones Recruited By The Russian Military Has Intensified. these Men Went To Fight In Ukraine,driven By Promises Of High Salaries,But Now Many Are Missing,Leaving Families In anguish And Uncertainty.
A Wife’s Anguish: The Search For A Missing Husband
Magar, Using Only Her Last Name For Fear Of Jeopardizing Potential Compensation, Is One Such Individual. Two Years Ago, Her Husband, A Former driver In Afghanistan, Enlisted In The Russian Military With No Prior Military Experiance. The Promise Of Earning eight Times His Previous Income, Approximately $366 A Month, Convinced Him to Join. However, Since November 2023, He has Been unreachable.
Magar Has Since Traveled from Her Village In Baglung District To Kathmandu To Seek Answers. Her Ultimate Goal Is To Journey To Moscow To Ascertain Whether Her Husband Is Alive Or Dead And, If Deceased, To Claim The Compensation Offered By The Russian Government.
government Inaction And Families’ Desperation
Magar Stated That She Lodged Complaints With Several Government Agencies, Including The Department Of Consular Services, Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau, And The National Human Rights Commission, But Has Received No Information About Her Husband’s Whereabouts. She Is Currently Awaiting Government Approval To Travel To Russia independently, But Officials are Hesitant To grant Permission As They Attempt To Locate Other Missing nepalis Involved In The Conflict.
Leknath Gautam, Acting Director Of The Department Of Consular Services At The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Reported That Over 200 Nepalis Have Returned From The War Zone. However, The Ministry Confirmed 70 Deaths, Over 100 Missing Persons, And At Least 343 Families Officially Seeking Government Assistance In Locating Their Relatives. This Crisis Highlights The Failures In Nepal’s Foreign-Labor Protection System.
“We Cannot Stop Them From Going To Search For Their Relatives,” Gautam Said. “It Is The State’s Responsibility To Assist Them.”
Critics Decry Government’s Lack Of Responsibility
While The Government Asserts That It Is Assisting In The Search Efforts, Critics contend That It Has Failed To Take Adequate Responsibility, Leaving Vulnerable Families To Embark On These Searches Alone. Kritu Bhandari, An Opposition Leader, Questioned How Uneducated Women From Remote Areas Could Navigate The Complexities Of Russia Without Government Support.
Yam Kumari Kandel, Gpj Nepal
Kritu Bhandari, An Activist And Opposition Leader, Is Organizing Support For Nepali Families Whose Loved Ones Joined The russian Military and Have Gone Missing In Ukraine. She Says Many must Search For Answers Without Government Assistance.
The Harsh Realities Faced By Nepali Recruits
Andriy Yusov, A Press Officer at The Main Directorate Of Intelligence In Ukraine’s Ministry Of Defense, stated That Approximately 830 nepali Citizens Are Serving In Or Have Been Killed As Part Of The Armed Forces Of The Russian Federation. He Added That 38 Are Listed As Killed In Action, And Nine Are Prisoners of war In Ukraine. The Prisoners Of War Are Treated In Accordance With International Humanitarian Law,An Official At Ukraine’s Ministry Of Foreign Affairs told Global Press Journal.
Bhandari, however, Claims Those Figures Are Grossly underestimated. she Manages A WhatsApp Group Of 3,000 Nepalis Involved In The Russian Military. Many Recruits Were Lured Via TikTok Videos Featuring Cheerful Nepali Soldiers, Tempting Them With The Promise Of High Salaries And russian Citizenship.
On May 16th, Russia And Ukraine Agreed To Exchange 1,000 Prisoners Of War In The Largest Prisoner Swap Of the Conflict.
Nepal’s Response And International Law
The Nepali Government Implemented A Ban On Labor Approvals For Russia In December 2023 To Curb The Exodus. Dandu Raj Ghimire, A Spokesperson for The Ministry Of Labor, Employment, And social Security, explained That The Government Cannot Prevent Individuals From Leaving If They Choose To Do So.
Raju Prasad Chapagai, Chairperson Of Accountability Watch Committee, Stressed That Russia Must Establish Diplomatic Agreements With Nepal If It Requires Nepali Citizens In Its Army. Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Confirmed That Nepal Only Has Such Agreements With The United kingdom And India. Anita Ghimire, Director Of Social Research At The nepal Institute For Social And Environmental Research, Emphasized The Need For Bilateral Agreements To Ensure The Safety And Social Security Of Nepali Citizens Sent To War Zones.
Economic Drivers And Personal Testimonials
Labor Migration Expert Keshab Basyal Emphasizes That Russia’s Recruitment Of Nepalis Underscores The Lack Of Job Opportunities In Nepal And Rural Unemployment. Lokesh Shahi,36,A Retired Nepali Army Soldier,Joined The Russian Military In September 2023 Out Of Desperation.
“There are No Opportunities To Earn In Nepal,” He Said. “I Thought, One Day I Have To Die anyway, so I Went To Russia.”
After Passing Medical Exams, shahi Was Deployed To Luhansk In Eastern Ukraine And Later Sent To Kharkiv. He Was The Only Nepali Who Survived In His 200-Member Battalion.
“All I Saw Were bombs, Artillery And Dead Bodies,” He Recounted. “It Felt Like Survival Was Impossible.”
Escape And The Search For Closure
Shahi Orchestrated His Escape By Obtaining A Fake Death Certificate For His Mother And Requesting Leave For the Funeral. After A Perilous 12-Day Journey through A Forest, He Reached Luhansk And, With The Assistance Of The Nepal Embassy, Returned Home. Since Then,He Has Been Informing Families In His Village about The Deaths Of Their Loved Ones.
While Shahi Found His Way Back, Magar And Hundreds Of Other Families Still Seek Closure. Fifteen Families, Including Seven Wives, Have Traveled To Moscow And Plan To Stay Until They Find Answers.
The Broader Implications
The Recruitment Of Nepali Citizens Into The russian Military Sheds Light On Several Critical Issues:
- Economic Vulnerability: The Lack Of Domestic Job Opportunities Drives Many Nepalis To Seek Employment Abroad, Even In Dangerous Situations.
- Gaps In Foreign-Labor Protection: The Nepali Government’s Inability To Adequately Protect Its Citizens Working Abroad Is Evident.
- Geopolitical Impact: The Involvement Of Nepali Nationals In International Conflicts Raises Questions About Nepal’s Role And Responsibilities in Global Affairs.
Did You Know? Remittances from overseas workers contribute substantially to Nepal’s economy, accounting for approximately 25% of the country’s GDP as of 2023.
Pro Tip: Families searching for missing relatives abroad should maintain detailed records of all communications with government agencies and seek legal counsel to understand their rights and options.
comparative Analysis: nepali Migrant Workers in Russia vs. other regions
| Region | average Monthly Salary (USD) | Safety Risks | Government Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia (Military) | 800-2000 | High (Active Conflict Zone) | Limited, Focus on Compensation |
| Middle East (Construction) | 300-800 | Moderate (Heat, Labor Conditions) | Variable, Bilateral Agreements |
| Malaysia (Manufacturing) | 200-500 | Low (industrial Accidents) | Better, established Labor Laws |
the above table offers a comparison of different job markets for Nepali migrant workers, highlighting the risks and compensation associated with each.
Frequently Asked Questions (Faq)
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Why Are Nepali Citizens joining The Russian Military?
Many Nepali Citizens Are Driven By economic Necessity And The Lack Of Job Opportunities In Nepal, Seeking Better Income And Prospects In The Russian Military.
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How many Nepalis Are Estimated To Be Serving In The Russian Military?
As Of Recent Reports, Approximately 830 Nepali Citizens Are Either Serving In the Russian Military Or Have Been Casualties Of The Conflict.
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What Is The Nepali Government Doing To Help Families Of Missing Soldiers?
The Nepali Government States It Is Assisting In The Search For Missing Nepali Men, but Critics Argue That It Has Not Taken Enough Responsibility, Leaving Families To Search On Their Own.
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What Risks Do Nepali Recruits Face In The Russian Military?
Nepali Recruits Face Significant Risks,including Combat Exposure,Lack Of Adequate Training,And Difficulties In Communication And Adaptation Due To Language And Cultural Barriers.
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What Is The Legal Status Of Nepali Citizens Serving In Foreign Militaries?
International Law Does Not Prohibit Neighboring countries From Recruiting Soldiers Legally, But The Recruitment Of Nepali Citizens By The Russian Military Raises Concerns About The Lack Of Bilateral Agreements For Their Safety And Social Security.
What are your thoughts on the Nepali government’s response? How can international organizations better support these affected families?
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