The truth behind ‘Gurkhas in Russia’

There have been a number of news articles in recent months claiming that some Gurkha soldiers have joined Russia on the frontline in Ukraine.

Though the headlines would imply this was the case, the truth is that no Gurkhas are fighting for Russia.

Who are the Gurkhas?

The Gurkhas are soldiers from Nepal who are recruited into the British Army, the Singapore Police and the Indian Army. They are revered as soldiers and to this day, they remain renowned for their loyalty, professionalism and bravery.

So who is fighting for Russia?

There have been some reports of young Nepali men who have either failed selection for the Gurkhas or have not put themselves forward for selection, taking up the ‘call to arms’ from the Russian Army.

There have also been reports from Nepal’s police alleging that a ‘human trafficking’ ring is charging to send young Nepali men to Russia on tourist visas and then embedding them in the Russian army. There have been arrests as part of a campaign to discourage vulnerable men from fighting on the frontlines.

Nepal’s ambassador to Russia, Milan Raj Tuladhar, puts a conservative number between 150 and 200 of his country’s people embedded in the Russian army since the start of the war. It has also been stated that six Nepali citizens serving in the Russian military have died in Ukraine since February 2022.

Why is this happening?

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. Young men strive to make a better future for themselves and their families. For many, this means vigorous training to join the Gurkhas, be it through the British Army, Singapore Police or the Indian Army. However, not everybody can be successful, and so people may look to other international means of earning a living.

The Russian military is offering nearly £600 per month to foreigners willing to become Russian soldiers, and Putin’s government has promised that ‘after one year, the process of their full Russian citizenship will be expedited.’

Does this affect The Gurkha Welfare Trust?

In short, no, aside from the negative connotations of the erroneous headlines involving ‘Gurkhas’. The Gurkhas we provide support for are veterans and their families – those who have already served their time fighting for our country.

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