Nepali youth Narendra Shrestha in Russian Army gears. Photo Courtesy: Narendra Shrestha's Facebook
KATHMANDU: It has been learned that approximately 1,200 Nepali youths are currently serving in the armies of Russia and Ukraine.
The Embassy of Nepal in Moscow has received information that around 1,000 youths are enlisted in the Russian Army, with an additional 200 serving in the Ukrainian Army across the border, according to Sushil Ghimire, the second secretary at the Nepali embassy in Moscow. Ghimire said that the embassy is coordinating with relevant agencies to verify this information.
“The embassy has also received information that another 3,000 youths are preparing to join the Russian Army. We are currently engaging in discussions with officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry to prevent this,” Ghimire stated. “The embassy has already advised Nepali youths against joining the Russian and Ukrainian armies.”
Most of these youths enter Russia on individual labor permits, with some arriving through other European countries as well as Qatar, UAE, and Turkey, attracted by the promise of better pay. Although the government became aware of Nepali youths joining the Russian Army as early as April, it continued to issue labor permits for Nepali youths to work in Russia.
Officials from the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security estimate a significant increase in the number of Nepali youths heading to Russia over the past year. Not limited to Russia, Nepali youths are also migrating to countries in Europe, Africa, and the US from the UAE.
The ministry issued labor permits to 9,253 youths to work in various European countries in the past five months.
“We have learned that Nepali youths are obtaining labor permits to work in countries like Portugal, Romania, and Serbia simply to enter Russia and Ukraine,” Ghimire added.
Meanwhile, the government has halted the issuance of labor permits for employment in Russia. This decision was made after the foreign ministry confirmed the death of six Nepalis in the Ukraine-Russia warfronts.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday evening that it has requested the Russian foreign ministry to prevent Nepali nationals from joining its army and to facilitate the return of any already serving.
Data compiled by the Department of Foreign Employment reveals that more than 1,500 Nepali youths have obtained labor permits for Russia since April.
