‘Duped’ Sri Lankans fighting in Russia-Ukraine war
6 months, 1 week ago

‘Duped’ Sri Lankans fighting in Russia-Ukraine war

The Hindu  

When Sri Lanka's economy crashed in 2022, people sought work abroad wherever they could find it — including ex-soldiers who joined forces fighting in Ukraine after Russia's invasion. Colombo's parliament set up an inquiry last month to track at least 2,000 battle-hardened Sri Lankans who reportedly enlisted on both sides of the Ukraine war, including in the regular armed forces and mercenary groups. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry raised the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the BRICS ministerial meeting in Moscow on June 10, the ministry said. Moscow will accept a delegation from Sri Lanka on June 26 to "review these issues in detail and take suitable action to arrest the situation", the ministry statement said. Russian ambassador Levan S. Dzhagaryan said "a lot" of visas had been issued to Sri Lankans, but insisted that they had not told the embassy why they wanted to go to Moscow.

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History of this topic

Only 19 Indians remain in Russian armed forces: Govt
1 week, 4 days ago

Only 19 Indians remain in Russian armed forces: Govt

Hindustan Times  

Most of the Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces have been discharged and only 19 of them are currently deputed there, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday. "As a result of concerted efforts by the government, most of the Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces have been discharged and several have been repatriated to India," Singh …

50 Indians serving with Russian military want to quit, come home: Govt
5 months ago

50 Indians serving with Russian military want to quit, come home: Govt

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: About 50 Indian nationals currently serving with the Russian military have approached Indian authorities seeking help to be discharged and both countries are working to find a resolution to the matter, the external affairs ministry said on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also raised the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their recent annual summit in Moscow …

India arrests four for duping young men into fighting for Russia in Ukraine
7 months, 2 weeks ago

India arrests four for duping young men into fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Al Jazeera  

The arrests come two months after the investigators conducted raids across 13 locations in India and detained several people for questioning. A federal investigation agency of India says four people linked to a network of human traffickers have been arrested on the charge of luring young men to Russia with the promise of lucrative jobs or university admissions only to …

‘Waiting for a call from Daddy’: Sri Lankans die in Russia’s Ukraine war
8 months, 4 weeks ago

‘Waiting for a call from Daddy’: Sri Lankans die in Russia’s Ukraine war

Al Jazeera  

At least two Sri Lankans have been killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, and three on the Ukrainian side. Colombo, Sri Lanka – Badly wounded from a Ukrainian attack on a Russian bunker in the Donetsk region, Sri Lankan fighter Senaka Bandara* tried to carry his fellow countryman, Nipuna Silva*, to safety. The two reported deaths add to the three …

'Stay away from this conflict': India after 'forced to fight' SOS from Russia
10 months ago

'Stay away from this conflict': India after 'forced to fight' SOS from Russia

India Today  

India on Friday advised its citizens to “exercise caution” and “stay away from this conflict” following reports that a few Indians have been allegedly "forced" to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine. At a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We are aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the …

Electric shock, extortion and slave labor: How Russia ran a detention camp in occupied Ukraine
2 years, 2 months ago

Electric shock, extortion and slave labor: How Russia ran a detention camp in occupied Ukraine

Live Mint  

The Russian interrogators left behind some tools of their trade at the sprawling machine-parts plant in this recently liberated city a few miles from the Russian border. In a sign of the commingling of violence and corruption in Russia’s state security system, the camp in Vovchansk also served as a moneymaking enterprise, used to extort cash for its keepers, former …

Sri Lankans describe abuse as Russian captives in Ukraine
2 years, 3 months ago

Sri Lankans describe abuse as Russian captives in Ukraine

India TV News  

Russia Ukraine War : A group of Sri Lankans held captive by Russian forces in an agricultural factory in eastern Ukraine said on Saturday that they were beaten and abused for months before escaping on foot as the Russians withdrew from the Kharkiv region this month. Recounting their ordeal to reporters in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, one of the seven …

Reports of Sri Lankans rescued in Ukraine put Colombo in spot
2 years, 3 months ago

Reports of Sri Lankans rescued in Ukraine put Colombo in spot

The Hindu  

Recent media reports of Ukrainian authorities rescuing seven Sri Lankans from the Kharkiv region have put Colombo, which maintains close ties with Russia, on a sticky diplomatic wicket. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly said seven Sri Lankans, who were held by the “invading Russian forces since March” in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, had been rescued from “torture …

Russia struggles to replenish its troops in Ukraine
2 years, 4 months ago

Russia struggles to replenish its troops in Ukraine

Associated Press  

The prisoners at the penal colony in St. Petersburg were expecting a visit by officials, thinking it would be some sort of inspection. Speaking on condition of anonymity because she feared reprisals, she said her boyfriend wasn’t among the volunteers, although with years left on his sentence, he “couldn’t not think about it.” As Russia continues to suffer losses in …

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka is hosting thousands of stranded Ukrainians
2 years, 8 months ago

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka is hosting thousands of stranded Ukrainians

Al Jazeera  

Official figures show about 5,000 Ukrainians and 15,000 Russians visited the island nation in the month the conflict began. “I love Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan people,” Makarenko told the AFP news agency. “Everybody wants to help us.” She, her husband and their five-year-old daughter had been travelling around Sri Lanka for weeks when Russian forces invaded Ukraine. “We stay …

'We're People, They are Too': Despite Own Crisis, Sri Lankans 'Overwhelm' Stranded Ukrainians With Help
2 years, 8 months ago

'We're People, They are Too': Despite Own Crisis, Sri Lankans 'Overwhelm' Stranded Ukrainians With Help

News 18  

As the sun dips below the Indian Ocean waves, Ukrainian tourist Viktoria Makarenko and her daughter light incense every evening at a temple in a Sri Lankan beach resort to pray for a return home. “Everybody wants to help us.” She, her husband and their five-year-old daughter had been travelling around Sri Lanka for weeks when Russian forces invaded Ukraine. …

All parties must exercise maximum restraint: Sri Lanka on Russia-Ukraine crisis
2 years, 9 months ago

All parties must exercise maximum restraint: Sri Lanka on Russia-Ukraine crisis

The Hindu  

The Government of Sri Lanka said it is “deeply concerned” about the recent escalation of violence in Ukraine. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, Sri Lanka called upon “all parties concerned” to exercise maximum restraint and work towards “the immediate cessation of hostilities, to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.” Further, Sri …

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