A Nepali man who had joined the Russian army has died fighting Ukrainian forces, his family said. This has taken the number of Nepalis killed in the Russia-Ukraine war to 12.

The deceased is 32-year-old Sajan Gurung of ward 1 of Dudhpokhari Rural Municipality of Lamjung district.

Shreeman Gurung, the father of the deceased, said he had a video chat with his son at around 8-9 pm on January 1 for the last time and later came to know about the death through social media.

Shreeman said he had a conversation with his son for a few seconds and couldn’t reconnect with him following an interruption.

Sajan’s colleagues informed his brother, Kumar, who is currently in Germany, about Sajan’s death on January 2. He then conveyed it to the family. The family performed his cremation rites on January 14.

According to Shreeman, Sajan left the house on September 19 saying he would fly to Malta for employment. “We came to know that Sajan had joined the Russian army much later,” he said.

The incident has left the whole village grieving, said ward chair Durgaman Gurung.

According to Sunil Sunar, secretary of the CPN (Maoist Centre)’s district coordination committee, Sajan was also the Dudhpokhari Rural Municipality chair of the Young Communist League, the youth wing of the party.

The foreign ministry, however, has not confirmed the death officially. According to the foreign ministry, ten Nepali youths who joined the Russian army on their own have been killed.

Sajan’s death takes the death toll to 12. Earlier, Sonu Sunar of Pyuthan Municipality was killed in the war.

Nepal government doesn’t allow its citizens to join any foreign army except for some friendly countries that have been recruiting Nepali citizens into their national armies under traditional agreements regarding the recruitment of Nepali citizens in foreign armies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement in August urged Nepali citizens not to go for security-related works in war-torn countries.

At least 200 Nepali youths are estimated to be currently serving in the Russian army, which recruited them to fight the Ukrainians.

As many as 115 Nepali families have petitioned the government for the rescue of their relatives currently serving in the Russian army, Foreign Minister NP Saud had said.

After failing to stop Nepalis from going to both Russia and Ukraine to join their armies, the government on January 4 decided not to issue employment permits for the two countries.

With the help of human traffickers, many Nepalis have reached Russia on student and tourist visas and joined its fighting force.

Published on: 17 January 2024 | The Kathmandu Post