After 33 months in Ukraine, Nepali PoW clings to hope for freedom
Summary
A 24-year-old Nepali man from Rolpa district has been held as a prisoner of war in Ukraine since November 2023, seeking repatriation to Nepal or Russia amid unsuccessful prisoner exchanges.
Key Points
- Pratik Pun, a 24-year-old Nepali from Rolpa district, joined the Russian army under misleading promises and was captured by Ukrainian forces in November 2023.
- Pun has been a prisoner of war in Ukraine's Lviv region for about 33 months and maintains limited contact with his family via the Red Cross.
- He was promised rear-area duties and Russian citizenship but was deployed to front lines shortly after basic training.
- Pun urges the Nepali government to engage diplomatically to secure the release of himself and approximately nine other Nepali PoWs held in similar conditions.
