Nepali mercenary in Russia warns ‘do not come’

Kathmandu – Nepali mercenaries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, lured to kill far from their Himalayan homeland by promises of a passport and cash, but wounded returnees warn anyone tempted to join the war: “Do not come.”

While Nepali soldiers-forhire can bank in a month nearly double what they could earn in a year back home, conditions are brutal and many have been killed or wounded.

“I watched my friends die in front of me,” said Surya Sharma, who asked to use a pseudonym. “Nepalis cannot even imagine how horrific the war is.”

Shortly after the 24 year old underwent basic training with Russian forces, his unit was attacked on their way to a front line in eastern Ukraine.

“When the bombs and bullets were raining, I thought my life was ending,” he said. “I was there to die.” Combining tough Himalayan terrain with grinding poverty, Nepal has long been a source of ferocious soldiers to fight others’ wars. But it is only legal for Nepalis to sign up for combat with a foreign military if there is a government agreement in place, which only applies to Britain and India.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine will provide figures for how many foreign fighters are in their militaries. Sharma said: “There are many Nepalis, there must be 2 500 to 3 000,” he said.

At least 12 Nepalis have been killed and another five are prisoners of war in Ukraine, the foreign ministry in Kathmandu said. Returnees say the true number of dead is also much higher and, according to local media, Nepalis fight for Ukraine too. To attract fighters, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered Russian citizenship, which allows recipients to work on top of monthly salaries as high as $2 200 (about R42 000). Videos by Nepali recruits undergoing military training in Russia started to surface on TikTok last year, prompting one former veteran to enlist in July.

“We are taking a risk,” the 39 year old said, asking not to be named. “If there were good employment opportunities in Nepal, no-one would go.”

Sharma, 24, suffers searing pain every step he takes from the metal fragments buried in his legs. He said he was duped by a Nepali agent.

Sent to the front lines in Ukraine, Sharma’s unit was ambushed and explosions killed several of Sharma’s comrades and he was wounded.

Nepal has banned its citizens from working in Russia or Ukraine in any capacity, to try to prevent their recruitment. At least 12 people have been arrested in Nepal for sending people to fight for Russia.

“We do not have an agreement with Russia and have requested immediate return of those people,” said Nepal’s Foreign Minister NP Saud.

The Russian embassy in Kathmandu did not respond to requests for comment.

One wounded Nepali warned his countrymen to resist the lure. “No matter how much you prepare, it does not work when the bombs fall and the drones attack. Do not come.” –

I thought my life was ending. I was there to die.