Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday (September 23), he called on the governments of these countries to protect their citizens and stop them from being pulled into the war.
New York: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named India among 47 countries whose citizens, he alleged, are being “used” by Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan, South Africa, many others… India has been working with Moscow to secure the release and return of its nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces. The issue has been raised by New Delhi with Moscow on several occasions. The Ukrainian president also argued that Russia’s ability to continue the war depends on its finances.
“We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war. We also see people dying on the battlefield who are not Russians, people from your countries, 47 countries, who ended up in Russia through deception and tricks,” Zelenskyy said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that 227 Indian nationals have been recruited into the Russian military. Of these, 139 have been discharged and 51 have died.
He said that Russia was recruiting people from several countries and sending them to the battlefield. He alleged that some foreign nationals had reached the country through “deception and tricks” before ending up in the war. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in the first week of September that India was in talks with Russia for the release and repatriation of Indians still serving there. The Ukrainian president used his UN speech to address the governments of the countries whose citizens he said were fighting for Russia. He said Ukraine’s military actions against Russia’s energy infrastructure were aimed at reducing Moscow’s ability to fund the war.
New Delhi has sought the early discharge of such nationals. Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan, South Africa, many others… He asked them to protect their nationals.
Earlier reporting noted: “We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war. We also see people dying on the battlefield who are not Russians — people from your countries, 47 countries, who ended up in Russia through deception and tricks,” the Ukrainian president said.
The issue has involved Indians who travelled to Russia after being offered jobs and later found themselves serving with Russian military units, according to the government. Earlier reporting noted: Zelensky says Russia tricking Indians into joining war: ‘Don’t let Putin drag you in’ Russia is luring Indians into its war against Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian President alleged that Moscow was recruiting nationals from 47 countries through “deception and tricks”.
Earlier reporting noted: The Ukrainian president addressed representatives of the countries whose citizens he claimed were fighting in the war.
