Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged India and 46 other countries at the UN General Assembly to prevent their citizens from being drawn into Russia’s war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Russia was using nationals from 47 countries and alleged that some had been recruited through deception. India has separately acknowledged that 227 Indian nationals were recruited into the Russian armed forces. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said 139 had been discharged and 51 had died, while New Delhi continues discussions with Moscow over remaining cases.
Zelenskyy Urges India and 46 Nations Not to Be Drawn Into Russia-Ukraine War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told the United Nations General Assembly that Russia is using citizens from 47 countries, including India, in its war against Ukraine.
On September 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on India and 46 other countries to prevent their citizens from being drawn into Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Zelenskyy said Russia was recruiting foreign nationals and warned governments against letting their citizens get involved.
He specifically named Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan and South Africa as countries whose nationals were allegedly used.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine gets prisoners of war from a range of countries and has had requests for the repatriation of foreign nationals seized in fighting.
Zelenskyy’s Appeal to India and Other Nations
Zelenskyy said Russia was using citizens of 47 countries in the conflict and claimed some foreigners had been drawn into Russia through deception and duplicitous recruitment efforts.
Ukraine has had non-Russian nationals dying on battlefields, he said, and governments need to protect their citizens from being drawn into another front.
Zelenskyy told representatives of those countries to stop Russia from involving their nationals in the war and to curb Moscow’s military and financial potential.
“By denying Russia revenues, trade and financing for the war will reduce resources available for further military operations,” he said.
The Ukrainian president also referred to prisoners of war from countries outside North Korea, highlighting the international dimension of foreign recruitment linked to the conflict.
India’s Russian Army Recruitment Figures
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri separately said India has acknowledged the recruitment of 227 Indian nationals into Russian armed forces.
Misri said 139 Indian nationals had been released, while the Indian authorities had information that 51 others had died while on duty in the Russian military.
The figures were provided at a Ministry of External Affairs briefing in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in August, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit for the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit.
Misri said the recruitment issue had been discussed between India and Russia at various levels and on multiple occasions, and New Delhi was pursuing the remaining cases.
India has continued talks with Moscow over the release and repatriation of its nationals who still have ties with the Russian armed forces, and its embassy has been monitoring the cases.
Also Read: Xi Jinping Arrives in Washington as Trump Extends Trade Truce With China
Sanctions, Trade and Russia’s War Revenue
Zelenskyy also called for stronger sanctions, continued support for Ukraine and restrictions on trade with Russia, saying trade gives Moscow resources for war.
He said sanctions, support packages and joint weapons production all help Ukraine to resist Russia and argued that continued trade gives the conflict more time.
Zelenskyy also criticised what he described as misuse of the United Nations veto, saying that Russia’s money has allowed it to continue resisting diplomatic pressure.
He said the Russian budget deficit was bigger than in previous years, and he said many Russian regions already were in serious financial trouble.
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly is underway in New York, with the high-level week bringing heads of state and governments together to discuss international security and other issues.
The development highlights the growing role of foreign nationals in the Russia-Ukraine war, creating diplomatic challenges for governments seeking the release of their citizens, according to Sprouts News.
What Happens Next
India’s immediate focus is diplomatic engagement with Russia on the issue of the remaining nationals, while Ukraine continues to urge foreign governments to prevent further recruitment into the conflict.
Zelenskyy’s comments have pushed the issue of foreign military recruitment into a broader international conversation on sanctions, trade, diplomacy and the ongoing war.
The matter is likely to remain a topic of bilateral discussions between India and Russia as well as wider diplomatic initiatives concerning the war and affected foreign nationals.
