A Nepali man serving in the Russian army was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on Saturday.

Tirkha Bahadur Budhathoki, 44, from ward 5 of Sunchhahari Rural Municipality in Rolpa, died in the attack. He had travelled to Russia via India in September 2023 to join the Russian army and had been serving for nearly 18 months.

The drone strike targeted a four-member Russian unit, including Budhathoki and another Nepali soldier. While Budhathoki and a Russian soldier died on the spot, the remaining two sustained injuries.

His father, 70-year-old Om Bahadur Budhathoki, said he had lost contact with his son since February 25. “He had gone out of contact several times before, but this time, the news of his death came instead,” he said tearfully.

The family learned about his death from another Nepali soldier in his unit.

Unsure whether his body will be repatriated, they have begun symbolic cremation rites at home. “We heard he was killed in a drone strike in a distant land. Whether his body will return is unknown, so we have started the rituals,” his father said.

Budhathoki had served in the Nepal Army for about two and a half years before being elected as ward chair from the CPN-UML in 2017. He is survived by his parents, wife, and two children.

Local representatives have visited his family to offer condolences.

Earlier, two other men from Rolpa died in Ukrainian attacks while serving in the Russian army.

The recruitment of Nepalis into foreign armies without formal agreements, such as in Russia, remains a contentious issue. Nepal currently allows its citizens to serve in only the British and Indian armies. Hence, the participation of Nepalis in the Russian military has raised significant concerns. Reports suggest that many Nepalis travel to Russia on student or work visas and are subsequently recruited into military service.

Although Nepali law prohibits citizens from joining foreign armies without formal treaties, limited economic opportunities at home have compelled many to take such risks.