Police in Sri Lanka have arrested a retired officer of the Sri Lankan Army on allegations of involvement in sending former soldiers to Russia. These soldiers were sent to serve in the Russian military amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Similar deceptive recruitment tactics have also affected several youths from India, who were recruited into the Russian army under false pretenses.
Following the revelation of this case
There has been some repatriation. Nepal has raised concerns about its citizens being recruited into the Russian military. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lankan Police arrested a retired major and a civilian on charges of extorting money from people under the guise of sending them to work in the military in Russia. Last month, it was reported that more than a hundred former Sri Lankan soldiers were involved in fighting on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
International media reports suggest that Sri Lankan ex-servicemen were enticed with a monthly salary of $3000 to serve in the Russia-Ukraine war. Over the past several months, three Sri Lankans serving in Ukraine have been reported dead.