India’s Supreme Court has ordered fresh efforts to secure compensation for families of 51 nationals killed while serving in Russia’s military, at a time when hundreds of African recruits have also died in the war, leaving their families seeking compensation and government intervention.
- India’s Supreme Court has ordered renewed efforts to secure compensation for families of 51 nationals killed while serving in Russia’s military.
- Investigations revealed hundreds of Africans were also recruited and killed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with families seeking answers and support.
- African countries face similar issues, with at least 3,066 Africans recruited and 502 confirmed dead, often lured by promises of jobs or residency.
- Families in both India and Africa are demanding government intervention, repatriation of bodies, and compensation, though legal support varies by country.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs told the Supreme Court that 267 Indian nationals had joined the Russian armed forces, with 51 reported dead, 139 discharged and 77 unaccounted for, including seven officially confirmed missing by Russian authorities.
Following the disclosure that only six families had pursued compensation claims despite 51 reported deaths, India’s Supreme Court in New Delhi directed the Ministry of External Affairs to notify affected families of their right to seek compensation, according to Indian legal news outlet LiveLaw.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also ordered the ministry to assist families with their claims and provide details of compensation approved and disbursed by Russian authorities.
Hundreds of Africans also killed fighting for Russia
Meanwhile, African countries are facing similar challenges as investigations reveal the scale of Russian military recruitment across the continent.
An investigation by Journalists for Justice documented at least 3,066 Africans recruited from 40 countries between October 2022 and June 2026, with 502 confirmed deaths.
Kenya accounted for 76 deaths, while Cameroon, Ghana, Egypt, Nigeria and Uganda were also among the countries affected by the recruitment.
Separately, an earlier investigation by All Eyes on Wagner identified 94 deaths among Cameroonian recruits and 55 among Ghanaians.
Cameroon’s government also acknowledged the deaths of 16 nationals in April after receiving confirmation from Russian authorities.
According to reports, some African recruits travelled to Russia after being promised civilian jobs, attractive salaries or residency opportunities, only to find themselves deployed to the battlefield in Ukraine.
Similarly, in South Africa, families of 17 men alleged that their relatives had been promised bodyguard training but were instead sent to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, prompting government intervention to secure their return.
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African families seek answers and compensation
The growing number of African casualties has raised questions about compensation, repatriation and government intervention, particularly as India takes formal legal steps to assist its affected citizens.
While India’s Supreme Court has directed authorities to notify bereaved families, facilitate compensation claims and account for payments from Moscow, families in Kenya and other African countries are also seeking assistance through their respective governments.
However, unlike India’s court-directed process, no comparable coordinated legal action has been documented across Africa, leaving many families to pursue compensation and information about their missing relatives through separate national channels.
