DANG, March 23 -- Nepalis recruited into the Russian army are often deployed at the forefront of the battle, says a returnee mercenary, adding, "If you refuse to advance, you risk being shot by your own commander."

According to Sirjan Bahadur Singh from Kanchanpur, who enlisted in the Russian army, the commanders overseeing Nepalis in the Russian army are Russians.

Singh shared in a telephone interview with Republica that Russians position themselves behind, placing Nepalis and other foreigners at the front lines.

"Those who resist moving forward are executed by the Russian commander. They killed one individual from Dang and two to three from eastern Nepal."

Soldiers from various countries, including Nepal, find themselves in the fron...