Notable Number of Nepali Soldiers Among Foreign Fighters Killed Fighting for Russia in Ukraine War
Image source, NurPhoto via Getty Images
Data shows that among foreign fighters enlisted in the Russian military who have died in the Ukraine war, the number of Nepalis is second only to citizens from the former Soviet Union.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal stated in parliament that, as of the third week of the Nepali month of Ashadh, the government has verified the deaths of 131 Nepalis who enlisted in the Russian army. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared this number stable.
BBC Nepali and BBC Russian have collected data on the deceased through various sources in coordination with the Nepal government.
The government received information about the last Nepali in the deceased list on May 15. A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the individual was a permanent resident of Surkhet district.
In a report to the National Assembly two weeks prior, Minister Khanal shared that among those recruited into the Russian army, 131 Nepalis have died, 95 are missing, and 9 remain under Ukrainian control.
Trend
Image source, NurPhoto via Getty Images
Although not all death cases are fully verified, the compiled data reveal certain trends.
The average age of Nepalis killed in the Ukraine war is 24 years, with the youngest being 20 years old.
The first Nepali casualty was 30-year-old Sandip Thapaliya, who died in June 2023.
His body was interred in Ivanovo, approximately 300 kilometers from Moscow.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Ashadh 23, Minister Khanal affirmed that apart from countries with traditional agreements, Nepal does not allow its citizens to enlist in foreign armies.
Nepal has repeatedly requested Russia to compensate families of missing and deceased Nepalis and urged its citizens not to enlist in the Russian Army. “I raised this issue with the Russian ambassador a few days ago,” he stated.
The main wave of Nepali recruitment into the Russian army occurred during the summer and autumn of 2023. Nepal sent a formal letter to Moscow in December of that year, urging cessation of recruitment.
However, indications suggest recruitment processes continue.
Origins of Nepalis Killed in the Conflict
Permanent addresses are known for over 85% of the 114 Nepalis listed among the deceased.
Among them, six are from Syangja district; five each from Dhading and Rupandehi; four each from Jhapa, Sankhuwasabha, Nuwakot, Gorkha, Banke, Surkhet, and Kanchanpur districts.
More than 20 hail from each of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, whereas Madhesh Province has the fewest, with one individual each from Mahottari and Dhanusha.
Analysis of surnames indicates that over 45% of the deceased belonged to indigenous ethnic groups, and more than 30% were from Brahmin and Chhetri communities.
Among the deceased, there are at least 39 Brahmin or Chhetri, 31 Magar, 11 Rai or Limbu, 10 Gurung, and 9 Tamang community members. Other ethnic groups are also represented among those who died in the Ukraine war.
Foreign Mercenary Fighters
According to BBC data, since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began, over 3,589 foreign fighters have died fighting on Russia’s side, including soldiers from North Korea.
Mercenary soldiers who died fighting for Russia come from more than 40 countries, including citizens from Ecuador, the United States, Sri Lanka, and India.
BBC Russian, in collaboration with the publication ‘Mediazona’ and volunteer groups, has been compiling a database of deceased soldiers. This list contains over 233,000 names.
Among these, approximately 1,300 are foreign nationals.
Deaths have been confirmed through official statements, family posts, memorial sites, and photographs of military cemeteries.
In August 2024, the BBC Korean service confirmed the deaths of 2,304 North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region via satellite imagery and official photos of newly built military memorials.
The actual number of foreign soldiers fighting for Russia could be higher, as the list excludes Western or Ukrainian sources.
The total number of foreign fighters siding with Russia is several times greater.
NATO reported that around 24,000 foreign nationals from 44 countries are fighting as mercenaries for Russia. A senior NATO official shared this information at a July summit in Turkey.
“Perhaps hundreds of Africans have been recruited. Some joined voluntarily, while others were coerced,” the official said.
Prisoners, Migrants, and Volunteers
Image source, KCNA
Analysis of foreign personnel and their geographic backgrounds reveals that recruitment into the Russian military has occurred in three main stages.
From mid-2022 to the end of 2023, most foreign combatants were prisoners, who fought for 6 to 12 months before being released. Initially, the Wagner group managed recruitment, later transitioning to the Defense Ministry.
This agreement particularly applied to citizens from Central Asian post-Soviet states. For example, over half of the deceased from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were sent to the frontline from prison.
The second phase of foreign recruitment into the Russian army lasted from 2024 through mid-2025.
Starting early 2024, Russia signed a new agreement with the Defense Ministry that substantially increased pay. This attracted recruitment from non-Soviet countries such as Cuba, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Yemen.
Many foreigners were recruited enticed by higher salaries. Some knowingly signed agreements, others hoped to find work in education or construction. However, recruits were sent directly to the frontlines for combat.
Image source, KCNA via Reuters
Since mid-2025, human rights activists have reported new pressures on migrants from former Soviet states.
They are being promised removal of entry restrictions, accelerated citizenship processing, and withdrawal of deportation orders in exchange for participation in the war.
Lawyers have documented numerous cases where migrants were coerced into agreements with the Russian Defense Ministry.
Reports by the International Federation for Human Rights and Reuters investigations indicate intensified efforts to recruit citizens from low-income African countries.
Among foreign soldiers killed, North Koreans represent the largest group, but they were deployed based on agreements between North Korea and Russia; no such commitments exist with other countries.
The list of deceased also includes 25 Ukrainian citizens fighting for Russia. These individuals were sent from prison after the war began. Separate data exists for Ukrainians from Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, not included in this count.
Overall, foreign soldiers constitute a small proportion of Russia’s military losses. Among the 233,000 named casualties, foreigners represent less than two percent.
With high casualties and dwindling numbers of volunteers, the Kremlin may explore alternative recruitment methods in the near future.
(With assistance from Elizaveta Fokht)
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