KATHMANDU: Two Nepali citizens, who had been lured to Ukraine by a broker and detained by the Ukrainian army for nine months, have been rescued. Phurba Sherpa, 29, from Terhathum, had traveled to Ukraine on a three-month student visa arranged through an education consultancy in New Delhi. Sher Sambo Sherpa, 39, from Dolakha, had been held at a detention center in Martynivs’ke, Mykolaiv, since May last year.

The Ukrainian army transported them to Moldova. They are expected to arrive in Kathmandu from Moldova on Friday afternoon aboard Turkish Airlines flight TK274. However, four Nepali prisoners of war remain in detention in Ukraine.

They include Pratik Pun from Dang, Siddharth Dhakal from Kavre, and Bibek Khatri from Bardia, all captured from the Bakhmut and Zaporizhia sectors during 2023. Kyiv has expressed concerns about ensuring proper accountability and punishment for these individuals upon their release. Nepal has urged Russia to stop recruiting Nepali citizens and to send back the remains of those killed in the war. In response, Russia has reportedly ceased recruiting Nepalis for its army and terminated contracts with those currently serving.