A TikTok trend swept across Nepal in the summer of 2023, featuring videos of young Nepalese men boasting about joining the Russian army.
Hundreds Joined Russian Army
They talked about the comfortable living conditions, safe work environments, and wages far higher than what they could earn back home, according to Hotnews. For many in Nepal, where economic opportunities are limited, the promise of a better life in Russia seemed too good to pass up. But the reality was far harsher than these videos suggested.
Unbeknownst to many viewers, these TikToks only showed the initial training camps where recruits spent a few weeks before being sent to the front lines in Ukraine.
Over the past two years, hundreds, possibly thousands, of Nepalese men have joined the Russian military. At least a few dozen have already been killed, leaving behind grieving families in Nepal, who had relied on them as sole providers.
Hoping for a Fresh Start
One such recruit, Bista Prakash, initially sought a fresh start in Russia after a tragic personal loss. Convinced by a cousin, Bista borrowed a large sum of money to pay an agent for a visa and airfare.
However, upon arrival, he quickly realized his tourist visa barred him from working, leaving him vulnerable and desperate. Eventually, he saw an ad for military recruitment and, lured by the promise of a high salary, enlisted.
Bista’s dreams quickly unraveled. After just three weeks of training, he was sent to the frontlines in Ukraine, where he experienced relentless violence and terror.
Wounded and disillusioned, Bista eventually escaped the war zone, but not before urging his friends back home to avoid making the same mistake.
