Nepal has urged Ukrainian authorities to release seven Nepali nationals who were captured while fighting for the Russian army in the ongoing war against Ukraine. These individuals were reportedly recruited by Russia and deployed to the battlefield, where they were subsequently taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, held a bilateral meeting with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, in New Delhi, requesting the release of the seven Nepali citizens currently held captive by Ukrainian forces.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the ‘Raisina Dialogue’ event, an annual conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics organized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, where both ministers were in attendance as invited dignitaries.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Dr. Rana emphasized that Nepal does not have a policy permitting its citizens to be employed in the Russian army. She urged the Ukrainian government to expedite the release of the seven Nepali men, who had been recruited into the Russian military and were later captured as prisoners of war by Ukraine.
Dr. Rana highlighted that these individuals, hailing from remote and economically disadvantaged areas of Nepal, had fallen victim to human trafficking networks and were coerced into serving in the Russian army before ending up in Ukrainian custody.
The Nepali Foreign Minister’s Secretariat reported that the discussions also covered Nepal-Ukraine relations and various matters of mutual interest. Dr. Rana formally requested Ukraine’s assistance in securing the release of the captives through her Ukrainian counterpart, underscoring the humanitarian aspect of the situation.
In response, Foreign Minister Sybiha assured her that the seven Nepalis would be freed once the necessary legal procedures were completed, signaling Ukraine’s commitment to resolving the issue in a timely manner.
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Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha is a Europe-based journalist. He covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs. Shrestha previously worked as a reporter for Khasokhas in Nepal.
