Another Nepali dies in the Ukraine war

One more Nepali youth—Sajan Gurung (32) from Lamjung district—has died while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, pushing further the toll of Nepalis in the war and raising questions about the safety of more than 200 youths that are reportedly involved in the war. Leaving behind his parents, wife and son, Gurung had headed for Russia three months ago and joined the Russian army. His family came to know about his death five days ago. 

Though the government claims to have intensified diplomatic efforts with Russia to address some of the key concerns surrounding the Nepali youths involved in the war, nothing has been done as yet to repatriate the youths. The government maintains that the Kremlin should have stopped the Nepalis from joining the Russian army in the first place.  Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said recently that approximately 200 Nepalis have been serving in the Russian army, but independent observers have said upon their return from Russia that the number could be much higher. Till date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the death of more than 10 Nepalis in the war. 

In the wake of mounting deaths in the war, the Department of Foreign Employment has stopped issuing work permits to those seeking jobs in Russia and Ukraine.  The government seems to have no idea about the exact number of Nepalis fighting the war, the number of prisoners of war and the number of those injured in action. Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud had pledged to seek those details, in vain.