Six Indian citizens who had been enlisted by the Russian Army during the Ukraine conflict will be coming back home after completing their frontline duty Such travel time back to India ends, the politically sensitive issue of this chapter leaving behind raises issues of foreign nationals who fought in such conflict and reasons to fight in this war. Here’s what we know about their release and upcoming return.
Who are the six Indians who went to Ukraine to bear arms on the Russian side?
These Six Indians Who Were Serving As Fighters For The Russian Army Abroad, In Ukraine Are About To Come Home, whose names have also been kept out of the public domain, according to unconfirmed Russian media reports, stepped up to Russian forces on invitation to participate in the Ukraine war. It is not known the reasons as to why they joined the war but sources claim that they may have joined after a foreign recruitment was conducted.
These individuals were not sparing mainly their purses to them for fighting but contractual work which came along with other benefits. The engagement of so-called foreign fighters in the Ukraine war reveals rather the opposite tendency. The war has drawn individuals from many countries on both sides.
Releasing Individuals and Helping Them to Go Back to their Homes
As part of the larger de-escalation strategy in some areas of the conflict, six Indians have been held on the frontline for several months and ‘handed over’. Facilitated from the combat zones by the Russian authorities, these people were released for them to return to India. Within the next few days, Six Indians are expected to be in their homes where they shall be debriefed and integrated.
There is no specific information about their return that has been given forth by Indian authorities. It is more than probable that they would still be under investigation and possible legal action would be taken against them upon coming back based on the level of their participation and whether or not there are any breaching actions undertaken regarding the Indian constitution.
Legal and Moral Considerations
The involvement of non-nationals in conflicts such as the Ukraine war raises legal and moral issues. There is criminal liability for foreign combatants by international law but this depends on the person’s role and status in the conflict, for instance being a mercenary will expose the person to prosecution. There exists an official prohibition in India, from the side of the government, concerning its nationals taking arms with any foreign military, or doing so overseas, unsupported by official sanction.
Legal analysts anticipate that the returnees could be subjected to interrogations to ascertain the legality surrounding their actions as well as have infringements of Indian or international law.
‘First of all, participants in any such activities run the risk of being prosecuted; quite a few crimes may fall under the definition of participation in these conflicts,’ explained legal analyst Anuradha Gupta. ‘It may also be under the evidence that some of these individuals may be charged within the jurisdiction of the Indian legal system.’
Broader Impacts on India-Russia Relations
India’s participation in politics is bound to carry its weight due to the participation of its nationals in the Ukraine combat. Resolution holds military to Indian people’s participation in the Ukraine combat although India has refrained from the use of force.
Analysts anticipate that the Indian government will seek to manage this issue in a way that does not adversely affect its historical relations with Russia and meets its legal requirements.
What’s Next For the Six Returnees?
Shift Ian and her five allies face an unwelcoming circumstance since they are about to head back home. Those impending challenges concern not only the laws and the order of the country but also the necessity to return to normal life after a frontline activity. This may have meant that quite an extensive array of support services such as these will be required once Six Indians return to India.
As such, the more fundamental problem of how to stop such occurrences from happening again in the future is also very much present, suggesting that more information and laws should be used to prevent Indian citizens from participating in such illegal wars.
The recent news concerning the release and return of six Indians who went to fight for Russia in the Ukraine war illustrates the complicated, and often underappreciated, phenomenon of the war of foreign fighters in global conflicts. Their actions will come back to India and they will have to face legal, ethical, and diplomatic issues related to them. Follow this developing story and other global news updates with NewsPoint48.