It may take one year to get death certificate of youths killed in Russia-Ukraine war
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump again threatens 'very substantial' tariff hikes for India over Russian oil
By Andrea Shalal and Aftab Ahmed Trump again threatens 'very substantial' tariff hikes for India over Russian oil WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would increase the tariff charged on imports from India from the current rate of 25% "very substantially" over the next 24 hours, in view of New Delhi's continued purchases of Russian oil. He also said a "zero tariff" offer for imports of U.S. goods into India was not good enough, alleging that India was "fuelling the war" in Ukraine. Trump's threat to India over its purchases of Russian oil started on July 31, when he announced a 25% tariff for Indian goods, along with an unspecified penalty. "They're fuelling the war machine, and if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be happy," Trump told CNBC in an interview on Tuesday, adding that the main sticking point with India was that its tariffs were too high. "Now, I will say this, India went from the highest tariffs ever. They will give us zero tariffs, and they're going to let us go in. But that's not good enough, because of what they're doing with oil, not good." An Indian government source said that India's purchases of Russian oil have helped to stabilise global oil prices by easing the pressure on supplies from other regions. India, the world's third biggest oil importer and consumer, buys more than a third of the oil it needs from Russia. "If we stop buying Russian oil, who will replace those barrels to maintain balance and at the same time prevent the prices from shooting up? We don't want a repeat of 2022 when prices shot up to $137 a barrel," the source said, referring to the oil market spike around the time when Moscow's invasion of Ukraine began. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the source was not authorised to speak to the media. Trump's latest comment followed a similar threat on Monday, which prompted India's Foreign Ministry to say the country was being unfairly singled out over its purchases of Russian oil. "It is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia ," it said in a statement issued late on Monday. "It is unjustified to single out India," it added. The EU conducted 67.5 billion euros worth of trade with Russia in 2024, including record imports of liquefied natural gas that totalled 16.5 million metric tons, the Indian ministry said. The United States continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride for use in its nuclear power industry, palladium, fertilisers and chemicals, it added, without giving a source for the export information. The U.S. embassy and the EU's delegation in New Delhi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both the United States and EU have reduced their trade ties with Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. SUDDEN RIFT India imported about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil from January to June this year, up 1% from a year ago, according to data provided to Reuters by trade sources. It has faced pressure from the West to distance itself from Russia over the Ukraine war. New Delhi has resisted, citing its longstanding ties with Moscow and economic needs. India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is likely to go ahead with a scheduled visit to Russia this week, two government sources said. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to visit in the coming weeks. The sudden rift between India and the U.S. has been deepening since July 31. Trump has said that from Friday he will impose new sanctions on Russia as well as on countries that buy its energy exports, unless Moscow takes steps to end the war with Ukraine. The trade tensions have caused concern about the potential impact on India's economy. The equity benchmark BSE Sensex .BSESN closed down 0.38%, while the rupee dropped 0.17% versus the dollar. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
a minute ago
- Time of India
Why Trump's tariff threat to India is more about politics than trade
Why Trump's tariff threat to India is more about politics than trade Ajay Srivastava Aug 5, 2025, 20:40 IST IST Washington's tariff pressure comes even as US tech firms rely on India for users, data, and talent — raising questions over whether the dispute is economic strategy or political arm-twisting By the time this went to print, Trump hadn't specified by how much he will 'substantially raise' tariffs on Indian exports on top of the 25% tariffs already imposed. Whatever the hit, with India's $86.5bn in goods exports to US under threat, it's fair to ask: Is India the only one buying oil from Russia? Why is US focusing on restricting oil imports? Is its position in the Russia-Ukraine war as clearcut as it claims? Crucially, is Trump targeting India because he can't go after China? It's worth exploring the facts behind the claims.
Hans India
a minute ago
- Hans India
PM Modi to inaugurate Prof M S Swaminathan Centenary International event on Aug 7
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate Prof M S Swaminathan Centenary International Conference on August 7, and release a commemorative coin and stamp in honour of the legendary scientist. The three-day conference with the theme "Evergreen Revolution – The Pathway to Bio happiness" aims to honour late Prof M S Swaminathan's lifelong contributions to sustainable and equitable development. Swaminathan, who is regarded as the "Father of the Green Revolution in India", played a pivotal role in transforming India from being food-deficient to self-sufficient by leading the introduction and further development of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice in the 1960s and 1970s. Briefing about the event, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General M L Jat highlighted Swaminathan's pivotal role in transforming India from a food-deficient to a food-surplus nation. He was a "brave son of India whose revolutionary leadership in agriculture reshaped the country's green landscape," Jat said. Jat also emphasized that the conference aims to carry forward Swaminathan's legacy by framing the future roadmap for Indian agriculture, with a particular focus on enhancing women's participation in the sector. The conference, organised by M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Union Ministry of Agriculture, aims to mark the birth centenary of Swaminathan, a towering figure in agricultural science and a pioneer of food security, an official statement said. MSSRF Chair Dr Soumya Swaminathan underscored the global significance of the conference and its role in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture worldwide. The conference will serve as a global platform for scientists, policymakers, development professionals, and stakeholders to deliberate on advancing the principles of the 'Evergreen Revolution'. Key themes include 'Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources'; 'Climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agriculture'; 'Inclusive and technology-driven livelihood solutions', and 'Youth, women, and community engagement in development'.
