Kathmandu – Experts and researchers at a discussion in Kathmandu on Wednesday warned that many Nepali nationals recruited into the Russian military may be victims of trafficking and economic exploitation rather than ideological fighters.
The discussion hosted by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) focused on the growing recruitment of Nepalis into the Russian army amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the legal and humanitarian questions surrounding it.
Speaking at the event, Maria Tomak from Ukraine-based organisation Truth Hounds said Russia’s recruitment of foreigners has expanded into what she described as a global phenomenon involving people from at least 130 countries.
Presenting findings from ongoing research, she said around 28,000 foreign nationals have been recruited into the Russian military with recruitment figures rising sharply from around 3,800 in 2023 to nearly 14,000 in 2025.
Tomak said the recruitment of Nepali citizens has largely been driven by socio-economic vulnerability and financial desperation.
She outlined multiple recruitment pathways including direct recruitment from home countries, recruitment through third countries and recruitment of migrants already living in Russia.
According to the findings presented during the discussion, many recruits were approached through friends, relatives or intermediaries and promised employment opportunities and financial benefits before being sent into military service.
Tomak said some individuals signed contracts without fully understanding the consequences, received minimal military training and were later deployed to frontline areas.
The discussion also focused on Nepali prisoners of war captured during the conflict.
Referring to interviews conducted with Nepali POWs, Tomak said many appeared to be socially and economically vulnerable and may have fallen victim to trafficking-related scams.
However, she also acknowledged the complexity surrounding the issue, noting that not all captured Nepalis wanted immediate repatriation.
“Some want to return home while others believe Russia still owes them money for fighting,” she said during the question-and-answer session.
Tomak said that under international humanitarian law, foreign nationals serving in the Russian army are treated as combatants regardless of nationality and are recognised as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions if captured.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Pramod Jaiswal of NIICE said Nepal’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict has remained rooted in its longstanding principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
He also pointed to socio-economic pressures pushing Nepali citizens toward foreign military recruitment.
Tomak warned that despite steps taken by Nepal to curb recruitment activities, continued Russian demand for manpower could trigger renewed targeting of vulnerable Nepali citizens.
The event concluded with calls for stronger migration governance, legal accountability, international cooperation and public awareness to prevent exploitation linked to foreign military recruitment.
