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A Sri Lankan soldier who joined the Russian army. He was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike.
At least 275 Sri Lankan nationals have been killed while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, according to a report in Himal Southasian.
Figures provided by Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War show that at least 455 South Asians have died fighting for Russia since Moscow launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The data, shared with Himal Southasian and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, covers the period from the beginning of the invasion until September 2025. It includes information partly obtained from sources within the Russian military and tracks foreign fighters recruited to join Russia’s war effort.
The figures reveal significantly higher casualty numbers than those previously acknowledged by governments in the region.
According to the data, at least 1923 recruits from South Asia have been identified as having joined the Russian military. These include citizens from Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka accounts for the largest number of deaths among South Asian recruits. At least 275 Sri Lankan nationals are recorded as having been killed out of at least 751 individuals recruited into Russian military service.
Officials involved in compiling the data say the real number could be considerably higher.
“The actual number of Sri Lankan nationals recruited into the Russian army, as well as those killed or missing in action, is likely significantly higher,” the Coordination Headquarters told Himal.
The figures stand in sharp contrast to the numbers previously provided by the Sri Lankan government. Last year, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that 59 Sri Lankans had been killed out of 554 recruited as of January 2025.
The Sri Lankan foreign ministry had not responded to questions from Himal Southasian at the time the report was published.
The growing number of casualties has left families across Sri Lanka struggling with uncertainty and financial hardship, as many of those recruited were former members of the Sri Lankan military who travelled abroad seeking employment.
As previously reported by the Tamil Guardian, a number of Sri Lankan soldiers and former servicemen were recruited through agents who promised lucrative contracts and non combat roles in Russia.
However, many were later deployed to the frontlines of the war in Ukraine.
