May 13, Kathmandu- It has been confirmed that 23 more Nepalese who joined the Russian army and were deployed on the war front with Ukraine have lost their lives.

With this, the number of Nepalese who joined the Russian army and were killed in the war with Ukraine has reached 73. Of the 50 people who went missing during the Russia-Ukraine war and whose samples were sent for DNA testing, the ‘reports’ are yet to come.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 23 more deaths have been confirmed since December 2019. The latest deaths are Hem Kumar Magar of Nawalparasi, Lalit Singh Dobal of Darchula, Tara Prakash Gharti of Salyan, Ram Krishna Adhikari of Sankhuwasabha, Geet Bahadur Gharti of Kaski, Makkhan Bahadur Pun of Baglung, Ram Kumar Pradhan of Makawanpur, Ronal Mishra of Morang, Bhim Bahadur Gharti of Pyuthan, Chham Bahadur Gharti of Myagdi, Arjun Dutta Bhatta of Baitadi, Sujan Sharma of Surkhet and Ram Kumar Budha Magar of Rukum West.

The other ten unaccounted for individuals are Lar Bahadur Budha, Netra Bahadur Thapa, Bikash Rai, Rupak Rai, Mahendra Malla, Ashok GC, Amrit Thapa Ale Magar, Udaya Raj Tharu, Pritam Rai and Prem Bahadur Lungeli Magar.

Most of them have not been in contact with their families for over a year. Although Russia has not provided official figures, it is estimated that at least 1,500 Nepalese have joined the Russian army.