At UN, Zelenskyy Warns India and 46 Countries Against Being Drawn Into Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged India and 46 other countries to protect their citizens from being recruited into the Russia-Ukraine war, alleging that Russia is using deceptive methods to bring foreign nationals into the conflict. Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Zelenskyy claimed that citizens from 47 countries are currently being used by Russia in its war effort. He said nationals from countries including India, Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan and South Africa had allegedly been taken to Russia through what he described as deception and misleading tactics before being sent to the battlefield.

“We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war,” Zelenskyy said, adding that people who were not Russian citizens were also dying in the fighting. He called on the governments of the countries concerned to take responsibility for protecting their citizens and preventing further recruitment. India's Ministry of External Affairs has previously said that 227 Indian nationals have been recruited into the Russian armed forces. Of these, 139 have been discharged, while 51 have died, according to government figures. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said earlier in September that India remains in continuous discussions with Moscow regarding the release and repatriation of Indian nationals who are still connected to the Russian military.

Zelenskyy also called on the international community to take measures aimed at restricting Russia's ability to continue the conflict. Addressing representatives of the 47 countries, he urged them to ensure their citizens do not become further involved in the war and called for restrictions on Russia's financial resources and its ability to sustain military operations.

The Ukrainian president also spoke about Russia's oil industry, saying the sector was experiencing serious pressure. He maintained that Ukraine's objective was not to target oil, fuel, factories or ports simply for the sake of damaging them, but rather to reduce Russia's ability to generate revenue and use those resources to prolong the war.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia's financial resources and industrial production are key to sustaining its military campaign, making them important areas of international pressure. Zelenskyy also raised concerns about North Korea's involvement in the conflict. He accused North Korean leader Kim Jong Un of sending troops to Russia to support its military operations in Ukraine and alleged that Pyongyang was receiving advanced military capabilities in return.

He further claimed that the cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang involved areas such as ballistic missile technology and drones. Referring to reports of ceremonies in North Korea honouring soldiers who had died, Zelenskyy questioned why North Korean citizens should be losing their lives in a war being fought in Ukraine. His remarks at the UN came as Kyiv continued to seek greater international pressure on Moscow while highlighting the alleged involvement of foreign nationals and countries in Russia's war effort.