Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) revealed on May 1 that Nepalese mercenaries are leaving the Russian military en masse amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
It has been noted that Russia has actively been recruiting foreign nationals from countries like Nepal, Somalia, India, and Cuba to serve in Ukraine since the outset of the escalated invasion.
These mercenaries are used as expendable forces, often with insufficient training for the battlefield, as per Petro Yatsenko from Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
For military unit number 29328, the defection of Nepalese soldiers has been due to extreme conditions including high casualty rates, unpaid wages, and inhumane treatment by commanders, such as execution for disobedience, as reported by HUR.
The intelligence agency also released a supposed list of the soldiers, along with profiles of some deserting mercenaries. They also reported that Russian forces have been largely unsuccessful in locating these deserters within the occupied regions of Luhansk Oblast.
Russian commanders have purportedly misrepresented the mercenaries’ desertion, citing an earthquake in Nepal as the chief cause, according to HUR’s disclosures.
HUR also emphasized the difficulty for these Nepalese individuals to make their way from Luhansk Oblast back to Nepal, in addition to the legal complications they could face in their homeland for fighting against Ukraine on behalf of Russia.
Moreover, HUR pointed out on April 29 that over 18,000 troops of the Southern Military District have deserted, with about 12,000 from the 8th Combined Arms Army – a unit that has seen significant action in Eastern Ukraine.
An anecdotal account detailed how Adil Muhammad, a former Somalia infantryman now imprisoned as a POW was enticed to fight for Russia and was subsequently captured near Marinka in Donetsk Oblast in early 2024.
FAQ Section:
- Why are Nepalese mercenaries deserting the Russian army?
Desertion is primarily due to high casualty rates, non-payment of wages, and abusive treatment by commanders. - How does Russia recruit foreign mercenaries?
Russia has been recruiting from several countries, including Nepal, for its military endeavors in Ukraine. - What challenges do the deserting mercenaries face?
Returning home is difficult and they may also face legal consequences in Nepal for their involvement in the conflict. - What does HUR say about the Russian military’s control over the deserters?
Russian military forces have struggled to locate and control the fleeing mercenaries in occupied territories.
Conclusion:
The situation involving Nepalese mercenaries in Ukraine showcases a dire outlook for foreign fighters conscripted by Russia. The hardships they are facing, and the significant numbers of desertions, highlight the challenges within the Russian military’s operations and their reliance on foreign recruits as expendable assets. This occurrence also indicates serious operational and ethical issues leading to a lack of morale and subsequent flight from the warzone. Supporting independent journalism in Ukraine remains critical for uncovering these realities and disseminating accurate information about the conflict.
Note: We, TheUBJ, do not produce the news content presented here. The information provided is a rewritten version sourced from various sources on the internet through AI news feed technology. We do not claim ownership or authorship of the news content. The original https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-5/ link is provided for reference.