Ukraine asks developing countries to prevent their citizens from joining Russian Army

KATHMANDU: Ukraine has urged Global South countries to prevent their citizens from being recruited to fight for Russia in its war on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government presented eight prisoners of war to the public on Friday. Reuters news agency reported, quoting Petro Yatsenko, a representative at the Ukrainian government’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, that five of these prisoners are from Nepal, and one each from Cuba, Somalia, and Sierra Leone.

“By showcasing these captured citizens, we are indicating the necessity for more radical and effective measures so that tens or hundreds of these individuals won’t be deceived by agitators,” Yatsenko told reporters in Kiev, according to Reuters. “In countries with a low income per capita, there is a high probability that some citizens may be recruited by Russia and used as cannon fodder.”

In December last year, Nepal appealed to Russia not to recruit its citizens into the Russian army and to promptly return any Nepali soldiers serving in its army. Russia has not responded to Nepal’s request.

The government has confirmed the deaths of 20 Nepali youths while serving in the Russian army so far.