Hundreds of Nepalis reportedly joining Russian army as contract soldiers

At a time when Western establishments were doing their best to promote Ukraine’s Foreign Legion by glorifying every single foreigner fighting there, Russia remained mostly mum on the subject. However, on May 16, 2023, Vladimir Putin signed a decree that simplified the path to Russian citizenship for foreign nationals who enter into one-year contracts with the Russian army during the conflict in Ukraine. Thereafter, their family members become eligible for a shortcut to Russian passports as well.

According to Nepal’s news outlet NepalPress, since then, hundreds of Nepali men have joined Russian forces as contract soldiers, with some being retirees of the Nepal Army.

In the video evidence circulating online, Nepali enlistees can be seen training in Russia's military facilities.  Although the videos did not provide any information on how to join, NepalPress managed to chat with two Nepali men currently in training. Both refused to identify themselves but shared their stories:

One young man explained that he came to Russia to study and after graduation he had two options — unemployment in Nepal or a job in the Russian army.  ‘Joining the Russian army and going to war is risky, you know. But, being unemployed after returning to Nepal is also a risk,’ he said.

Another man, who is a Nepal Army retiree, said that he was working as a security guard in Dubai when friends told him about job opportunities in the Russian Army. He also noted that new rules made it easier for foreigners to enlist since knowledge of Russian language is no longer required as long as one speaks English.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense doesn’t share information on foreign contractors; therefore, the exact number of Nepali men joining Russian forces is unknown.

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