Sri Lanka wants to repatriate mercenaries fighting for Russia against Ukraine

Sri Lanka is sending a high-level delegation to Russia to locate and repatriate its citizens fighting against Ukraine.

Source: Reuters, citing Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya

Details: Reports state that members of the delegation will look into the fate of hundreds of citizens who may have participated in the fighting in Ukraine.

It should be mentioned that in Sri Lanka, the investigation has been continuing since early May.

Quote: "The primary challenge lies in determining the exact number of individuals in Russia. As per unofficial sources, approximately 600-800 Sri Lankan individuals are in Russia," the minister said. 

The minister stated that the team would include Sri Lanka's Minister of Defence, Kamal Gunaratne, who previously served as Ambassador to the Russian Federation.

Reuters reported that at least 16 retired Sri Lankan troops were killed in Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Reuters noted that former Sri Lankan military soldiers have been repeatedly urged to join Russia's fight against Ukraine for quite some time. They are promised great incomes and opportunities to obtain Russian citizenship. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence has frequently warned against agreeing to this deception.

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