The deaths of three more Nepali nationals in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have been confirmed, raising the death toll of Nepalis recruited in the Russian army to 43.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohan Tamang of Udayapur, Dhruva Gharti of Baglung, and Ranjit Gurung, whose addresses remain unknown, have been identified as the latest casualties. The Russian government sent the medical reports confirming their deaths to the Nepali Embassy in Moscow.

Similarly, Russia has sent a letter to Nepal requesting DNA samples of 35 more individuals. The request is to provide DNA samples of close family members to help identify the bodies of those who died while serving in the Russian army. Previously, DNA samples of 22 individuals had been sent, but Russia has not yet provided any updates about those samples.

On September 2, the Nepali Embassy in Moscow wrote to the Department of Consular Services in Kathmandu, requesting it to send the DNA samples. The individuals whose samples are sought include Lal Bahadur Pun Magar, Bharat Kunwar, Laxman Basnet, Makkhan Bahadur Pun, Rajan Raut, Arjun Datta Bhatt, Ronal Mishra, Mahendra Shahi, Madan Gurung, Nar Bahadur Darlami, Tikaram Gurung, Suman Meche, Bhim Bahadur Gharti Magar, Kapil Gharti Magar, and Maitman Gharti.

Additionally, Chandra Bahadur Ghimire, Sandeep Kami, Hira Bahadur Gurung, Shyam Dhoj Gurung, Chham Bahadur Gharti, Sujan Jabegu, Jitendra KC, Ganesh Bahadur Kumal, Saduram Pradhan, Bhuvan Pun Magar, Rohan Tamang, Sujan Sharma, Gyan Bahadur Magar, Bhim Bahadur Negi, Dev Tamang, Vijay Kumar Tamata, Bipin BK, Chandra Prakash BC, Om Bahadur Magar, and Subash Tamang are also on the list.

The Department of Consular Services has contacted the family members of the individuals, asking them to come to Kathmandu to provide DNA samples for testing.

Published on: 10 September 2024| The Kathmandu Post