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Sri Lanka asks Russia to stop recruiting fighters on the island

Posted on by angelo
Sri Lanka asks Russia to stop recruiting fighters on the island

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday it had received assurances from Russia that it would stop recruiting the island nation’s citizens to fight in Ukraine, following allegations that thousands were misled into combat roles.

Relatives have urged Colombo to repatriate the Sri Lankans, mostly retired soldiers, of whom at least 16 are believed to have been killed and 37 wounded in the fighting, according to Parliament, and a dozen others are believed to be held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.

Sri…

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday it had received assurances from Russia that it would stop recruiting the island nation’s citizens to fight in Ukraine, following allegations that thousands were misled into combat roles.

Relatives have urged Colombo to repatriate the Sri Lankans, mostly retired soldiers, of whom at least 16 are believed to have been killed and 37 wounded in the fighting, according to Parliament, and a dozen others are believed to be held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry raised the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the BRICS ministerial meeting in Moscow on Monday, the ministry said.

“At the request of Minister Ali Sabry, it was also agreed that no additional recruitment from Sri Lanka would be carried out,” the ministry said.

Moscow will accept a delegation from Sri Lanka on June 26 to “examine these issues in detail and take appropriate measures to end the situation,” the ministry statement said.

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Thousands of Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began more than two years ago, and Moscow is seeking additional troops.

Sri Lanka claims many of its nationals were deceived into believing they would receive high salaries, land and the right to settle in Russia in exchange for non-combat services, but were ultimately sent to forehead.

Police on the island nation have arrested two retired generals for illegally acting as recruitment agents for Russian mercenary companies.

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Soldiers from Sri Lanka’s neighboring countries India and Nepal also joined the fighting, resulting in several confirmed deaths.

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