Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday (September 23), he called on the governments of these countries to protect their citizens and stop them from being pulled into the war.
New York: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named India among 47 countries whose citizens, he alleged, are being “used” by Russia in the war against Ukraine.
“We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war. We also see people dying on the battlefield who are not Russians, people from your countries, 47 countries, who ended up in Russia through deception and tricks,” Zelenskyy said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that 227 Indian nationals have been recruited into the Russian military. Of these, 139 have been discharged and 51 have died. “I want to speak directly to every representative of these 47 countries.
The Ukrainian president used his UN speech to address the governments of the countries whose citizens he said were fighting for Russia. Do not let Putin drag you into this war…Limit his room to act, limit his money, limit his war,” he said. He said Ukraine’s military actions against Russia’s energy infrastructure were aimed at reducing Moscow’s ability to fund the war.
Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan, South Africa, many others… India has been working with Moscow to secure the release and return of its nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces. You know what Russia is doing with your people, your citizens. Take care of them and do not let them end up on another front. The Ukrainian president also argued that Russia’s ability to continue the war depends on its finances.
Earlier reporting noted: “We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war. We also see people dying on the battlefield who are not Russians — people from your countries, 47 countries, who ended up in Russia through deception and tricks,” the Ukrainian president said.
The issue has involved Indians who travelled to Russia after being offered jobs and later found themselves serving with Russian military units, according to the government. Earlier reporting noted: Zelensky says Russia tricking Indians into joining war: ‘Don’t let Putin drag you in’ Russia is luring Indians into its war against Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian President alleged that Moscow was recruiting nationals from 47 countries through “deception and tricks”.
India has maintained that its citizens who were misled or recruited for military-related work in Russia should be discharged and brought home. The government has also been engaging Russian authorities over the cases of Indians still serving in the Russian armed forces. New Delhi has sought the early discharge of such nationals. Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan, South Africa, many others…
Earlier reporting noted: At the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, Zelensky asked the other countries to prevent their citizens from being drawn into the Russia-Ukraine war .
