It may take one year to get death certificate of youths killed in Russia-Ukraine war

The anxious wait of the families of Indian nationals to get death certificates of their dear ones who died fighting for the Russian armed forces in the war with Ukraine will be longer than anticipated. Many had been allegedly tricked by promises of lucrative jobs in the Russian armed forces.

According to the latest update, as many as 13 Indian nationals recruited by Russia as mercenaries in the war with Ukraine remain in the Russian armed forces.

However, 12 of them have been reported missing by the Russian authorities, said Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in Parliament.

Although the Russian authorities have been urged to provide an update on all the remaining/missing individuals and ensure their safety and early discharge, a good number of them are reported to have been killed in the war.

Ajith Kolassery, Chief Executive Officer of NoRKA-Roots, said Binil Babu, 32, one of the two youths from Thrissur forcibly enlisted by the Russian Army, was killed in a shell attack on the Russia-Ukraine warfront in January and had been reportedly included on the missing list.

“Recently, during a visit to Russia, I personally enquired about the possibility of confirming the death and issuing a death certificate at the earliest. However, it will take at least one year to get it confirmed and for issuing the death certificate,” said Mr. Kolassery.

As per official information, there were 127 Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces, of which the services of 98 had been discontinued as a result of sustained engagement between the Indian and Russian governments.

However, it is assumed that more Indians, including Keralites, had been recruited to the Russian armed forces as mercenaries. Since the majority of them were not on the warfront without imminent danger, their families refuse to come up with plea to rescue them, said Mr. Kolassery.

Earlier, another Keralite, identified as Sandeep Chandran, 36, from Thrissur, had died in shelling in Ukraine in August 2024.