Nepal’s Citizens Enlisted by Russia to Combat in Ukraine: 15,000 Strong

According to a CNN report dated Feb. 11, the Russian military has enlisted the services of 15,000 Nepali individuals to partake in the conflict against Ukraine, based on information from various sources.

With a rise in troop casualties, Moscow has turned to the inclusion of foreign fighters into its ranks, offering a reward of $2,000 per month and a streamlined path to Russian nationality.

The figures from the government of Nepal, however, indicate that approximately 200 Nepali nationals are engaged in the warfare on behalf of Russia, with a confirmed count of 13 fatalities and 4 taken as war prisoners so far.

Bimala Rai Paudyal, an oppositionary figure in the Nepali legislative body and a past foreign minister, has pointed out that the headcount of Nepalis in the Ukrainian battlefront is closer to 14,000 to 15,000, backed by accounts from returning soldiers.

Investigative work by CNN has pinpointed a pair of training facilities within Russia where not just Nepalis but other international recruits are being prepared for deployment to the conflict zones in Ukraine.

In light of the deaths of at least six Nepali citizens, Nepal issued a plea to the Russian authorities in December, urging a cessation of recruitment drives directed at its populace. Subsequent discoveries revealed the existence of a recruitment racket within Nepal that was funneling young fighters into the Russian armed forces.

A suspension on the provision of permits for Nepalis wishing to take up jobs in Russia has been enforced by Nepal since Jan. 5, as per a Reuters report, following a rise in the death toll of Nepali mercenaries in the Ukrainian conflict.

Nepali regulations permit national service only in the military forces of India or the U.K., where the Brigade of Gurkhas, a unit comprising Nepali soldiers and with a history of over two centuries, is based.

As per the U.K. Defense Ministry in a September release, Russia has been actively looking to attract foreign nationals and migrant workers to bolster their forces, avoiding a formal conscription to sustain public favor in the lead-up to the presidential elections slated for March 2024.

Commander: Russia increases armored deployment in Avdiivka assault

As reported by Commander Oleksandr Tarnavskyi of Ukraine’s Tavria group on the southeastern front, Russia has stepped up its use of armored units in conjunction with assault infantry to intensify its offensive on Avdiivka in the Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 11.

How are Nepali citizens being recruited to fight for Russia?

The recruitment seems to involve a combination of financial incentives, offering $2,000 per month and fast-tracked Russian citizenship, as well as illegal domestic recruitment networks within Nepal.

Have the Nepali government approved this recruitment?

No, the Nepali government does not sanction its citizens fighting for foreign armies other than those of India and the UK. It has called for Russia to stop recruiting its citizens and has halted work permits for Russia.

Why is Russia recruiting foreigners to fight in Ukraine?

Russia’s defense ministry appears to be bolstering its forces with foreign recruits to avoid a formal conscription drive before the March 2024 presidential elections.

What is the status of Nepali fighters in Ukraine?

While the Nepali government recognizes that around 200 citizens are fighting in Ukraine for Russia, with 13 killed and 4 captured, reports and testimony suggest the number might be significantly higher, possibly around 15,000.

The recruitment of 15,000 Nepalis to fight in Ukraine underscores a shifting dynamic in the ongoing conflict, with Russia supplementing its ranks with foreign nationals. The logistics and ethics of such recruitment raise questions internationally and breach Nepali law, leading to significant governmental and diplomatic responses. This situation reveals the complex interplay of geopolitics, mercenary use in warfare, and the impact on the families and communities of those recruited.