Russia-Ukraine war: Hyderabad man killed and will make efforts to send his body, confirms Indian Embassy

Hours after media reports claimed that a 30-year-old man from Hyderabad, who was duped into joining the Russian Army, was killed in the ongoing war with Ukraine, the Indian government confirmed the killing and said it was making efforts to repatriate the mortal remains to his hometown. The youth was identified as Mohammed Asfan, who belonged to Telangana's capital, Hyderabad.

The Embassy said it has been in contact with the deceased man and added it would make efforts to send his body back to India.

"We have learnt about the tragic death of an Indian national Shri Mohammed Asfan. We are in touch with the family and Russian authorities," the Indian Embassy in Russia wrote on X. "Mission will make efforts to send his mortal



remains to India," it added.  Notably, this was the first such killing admitted by officials.

Earlier, the Asfan family had reached out to the AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi seeking help in bringing back the youth from the warzone. According to a media report, when the Hyderabad MP contacted the Indian Embassy in Moscow, officials confirmed that the young man had been killed.

Earlier last week, multiple media reported that a 23-year-old was killed in a drone attack on the battlefield. According to media reports, the slain youth, Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya, belonged to Gujarat's Surat and was killed in Donetsk close to Russia's border on February 21. However, the Indian officials did not confirm whether anyone was killed in the war.