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Russian conscripts called up for military service prepare to depart for garrisons from a recruitment centre, amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Bataysk, Rostov region, Russia May 16, 2024. (Reuters)
A 22-year-old from Haryana, India, Ravi Moun, has died fighting on the Russian frontline against Ukraine. His family was informed by the Indian embassy in Moscow
A 22-year-old Indian man has died while fighting on the Russian frontline, according to his family. The Indian Embassy in Moscow confirmed his death but did not provide details about the circumstances, The Indian Express reported.
Ravi Moun, from Matour village in Haryana’s Kaithal district, was reportedly forced to battle against Ukrainian forces, his family said. Ravi’s elder brother, Ajay Moun, said that the embassy requested a DNA test to identify Ravi’s body.
“We will send the DNA test report of our father to the embassy soon,” Ajay Moun told IE. Earlier this month, in a one-to-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised concerns about Indian nationals serving in the Russian military and sought their early release. Russia had promised to discharge Indian nationals from military service, but Ravi’s case highlights ongoing issues.
READ MORE: Russia Set To Discharge Indian Recruits Fighting In Ukraine After Modi-Putin Talks
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had previously confirmed the deaths of two other Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army. The first two fatalities were reported in June, with another two Indians from Surat and Hyderabad killed earlier this year. According to Ajay Moun, Ravi traveled to Russia in January, after the family sold their one-acre land to finance his trip.
An agent had promised him a transportation job in Russia, but Ravi was instead recruited into the Russian military. The family was later shocked to see him in uniform. Ajay Moun claimed that Ravi was coerced into fighting on the frontline under threat of imprisonment. “Ravi was trained to dig trenches and told us he had been on the battlefield since March 6. We lost contact with him after March 12,” he said.
The Indian embassy confirmed Ravi’s death on July 21 following an email inquiry from his brother. The embassy is facilitating the identification of Ravi’s body and has requested the family provide a DNA test report from a registered hospital in India. The family is now appealing to PM Modi for assistance in repatriating Ravi’s remains. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala described the situation as “heartbreaking” and has called for urgent intervention to address the crisis.
“Will the Haryana government and Mr Nayab Saini now make arrangements to bring Ravi Matour’s body back to Kaithal? Will they wipe the tears of the family? Will they provide financial aid and relief to the family? Will they send their minister to Russia to bring Ravi back? “Or will you continue to boast about your government of a few days by giving advertisements in newspapers? Know that the public will not forgive you,” Surjewala said in a post on X.
