The remains of five out of the 34 Nepali nationals who were killed in the Russia-Ukraine war were handed over to their families on Thursday. The remains, sent by the Nepali Embassy in Moscow via Qatar Airways, were brought to Kathmandu via Doha.

According to sources at the Tribhuvan International Airport, the remains of Dewan Rai of Kaski, Pritam Karki, Hari Prasad Aryal and Ganesh Shrestha of Syangja; and Anit Kumar Sah of Mahottari have been handed over to the kin on Thursday.

Dewan, aged 26, who died on November 4, 2024, was cremated in Balashikha, Moscow, five months later with his family’s consent. The last time his family could contact him was on November 3.

The family of 23-year-old Hari Prasad Aryal from Syangja received news of his death only in the last week of December. Following the delays in the return of his body, the family conducted his funeral making an effigy of kush, regarded as holy grass.

Hari had joined the Nepali army at the age of 18 but resigned after just two and a half years. He was reportedly planning to go to Oman and South Africa but instead opted to go to Russia on October 20. On December 4, he posted a video on Facebook with the caption, “This is life, will meet again if I survive, if not, that’s all.”

He was no longer in contact with his family after December 5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Pritam Karki’s death on December 4 from Syangja was killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to the data updated by the ministry at the parliamentary committee last month, out of 34 Nepalis, who lost their lives in the war, DNA samples of 22 families have been sent so far.

The ministry also shared that six Nepalis are held as prisoners of war in Ukraine and 150 people have returned home. The government has received 323 applications seeking rescue and repatriation from Russia, the ministry said.