More than 200 Nepalis are serving in Russian army: PM Dahal

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has claimed that more than 200 Nepalis are serving in the Russian army.

Addressing the office-bearers meeting of the Press Centre at the party’s central office in Paris Danda on Monday, the Prime Minister said that he got the information that the Nepalis, who went to Russia on visit and student visas, have joined the Russian army.

He further said that he has even got the information that some Nepalis serving in the Russian army have been held captives by the Ukrainian army and some Nepalis have also joined the Ukrainian army.

The Prime Minister said that efforts are being made for the safe return of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student missing in Israel since the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched armed attacks on Israel.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Dahal and Foreign Ministry had said that six Nepalis serving in the Russian army had died during the war with Ukrainian forces.

Following the incident, the government had urged Moscow to stop recruiting Nepalis in the Russian army.