Plan afoot to request President Zelensky for their release
LONDON, Feb 12: Even as concerns rise about the safe release of Bipin Joshi of Kanchanpur, held captive by Hamas for 16 months, Nepal’s government is largely unaware of Nepali prisoners of war held by Ukraine. Ukrainian forces still hold seven Nepali citizens fighting with the Russian army against Ukraine.
The Nepali Embassy in Germany has initiated efforts to secure the safe release of Nepali citizens held by the Ukrainian army since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.
In March 2023, Ukraine urged Nepal and other countries to stop their citizens from joining the Russian army and publicly identified five Nepali nationals in its custody.
The Nepali Embassy confirmed that the Nepali prisoners of war in Ukrainian custody include Sujan Subedi from Chitwan, Bibek Khatri from Bardiya, Siddhartha Dhakal from Kavrepalanchowk, Bikash Rai from Morang, Pratik Pun from Rolpa, Ishwar Lamichhane from Gorkha, and Madan Kumal from Gorkha.
Sources say that Nepal's Ambassador to Germany and Non-Resident Ambassador to Ukraine, Dr Shail Rupakheti, will raise the issue of rescuing Nepali prisoners of war in the Ukrainian army while presenting his credentials.
The source added, "Ukraine views Nepali recruits in the Russian army as part of the Russian forces. This is a conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Still, we have aimed to discuss with President Volodymyr Zelensky that these Nepali citizens were lured into joining the Russian army and are innocent."
Although the embassy has not yet fixed the date for the meeting with the President, it is actively working through diplomatic discussions between the two countries to arrange it. Ambassador Rupakheti has played a key role in rescuing Nepali citizens in Ukraine while leading the Nepali Embassy in Germany. Thanks to his efforts, Phurwa Sherpa from Tehrathum and Sher Sambo Sherpa from Dolakha, who had been detained in Ukraine for nine months, returned to Nepal just last week.
Since the end of February 2022, nearly two dozen Nepali citizens have lost their lives in the ongoing war, and hundreds of Nepalis remain stranded in Ukraine for various reasons.