Supreme Court Urges Government to Assist Families of Indians Lost in Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Supreme Court's Directive on Compensation for Families

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has emphasized the necessity of enforcing the right to seek compensation, directing the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to consider issuing a public notice. This notice would invite families of Indians who lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to apply for assistance and compensation.

In a recent report, the MEA informed a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi that 51 Indians had died in the conflict, while 77 others remain unaccounted for.

The court requested the MEA to submit a new report detailing the compensation provided by the Russian government to the families of the six deceased individuals.

This request followed a statement from Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who noted that six compensation claims had been processed by Russia, with five fully satisfied and one partially.

The bench asserted that the right to compensation applies to the families of all 51 individuals who tragically lost their lives.

Additionally, the court instructed the District Legal Services Authorities in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh to adhere to previous orders to offer free legal aid to the affected families for submitting claims and conducting necessary DNA tests.

ASG Bhati revealed that around 267 Indians had enlisted in the Russian military, with 51 fatalities and 139 discharged from service.

The Indian embassy in Russia is actively working to locate the 77 missing recruits, including seven confirmed as missing by Russian officials.

The bench acknowledged the MEA's efforts to contact affected families individually and facilitate their compensation claims.

Challenges in obtaining compensation from Russia, delays in DNA identification, and the repatriation of remains were also discussed.

The ASG assured the bench that all possible measures are being taken to support the families, stating that diplomatic efforts would ultimately yield results.

The bench also reviewed the case of Sikandar Singh, who is serving an eight-year sentence in Russia for molestation, and was urged to explore the possibility of transferring him to an Indian prison.

The law officer indicated that Singh would need to withdraw his appeal against his conviction for this transfer to occur.

Petitioners also called for action against agents allegedly involved in misleading Indians into joining the Russian military with false employment promises.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the law officer confirmed that a nodal officer had been appointed as per an earlier directive.

On July 31, the Supreme Court had instructed the Centre to designate a nodal officer within the MEA to coordinate with families of those who have died, gone missing, or been injured in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The court also mandated the MEA to facilitate DNA matching for families with the remains of their loved ones. This hearing was part of a plea concerning Indian nationals recruited into the Russian military under false pretenses.

The plea seeks the return of remains, compensation, and a coordinated approach for the affected families.

The bench noted that over 200 individuals, primarily from Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, had traveled to Russia in 2024-25 for various jobs, including in hospitality.

It was reported that these individuals were deceived by travel agents, leading to the seizure of their passports and documents upon arrival in Russia.

Many were subsequently enlisted in the Russian Army and sent to combat zones, resulting in numerous fatalities. The bench remarked that while some remains have been returned to India, many families are still awaiting compensation.