NEW DELHI: The central government has announced that 12 Indians including a Malayali who were forced to become part of the Russian mercenary army due to job fraud have been killed. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that 126 Indians have joined the mercenary army so far and 96 of them have returned. 18 are still in the Russian mercenary army. There is no information about the whereabouts of 16 of them. Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said that it is concluded that they are missing.
Efforts are being made to repatriate the body of Binil Babu, a native of Kuttanallur, Thrissur, who was a part of the Russian mercenary army and was later shot dead by the Ukrainian army. Binil Babu was killed a week ago. Jain Kurian, a native of Wadakkanchery and a relative of Binil who went to Russia, was also shot. He is undergoing treatment in Moscow. Expressing condolences over Binil's death, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also clarified that they are negotiating with the Russian authorities to bring the body home.