The new year brought bad news to the family of Hari Prasad Aryal.
On January 1, an official from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that Hari Aryal from Syangja, who had enlisted in the Russian army, had lost his life in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Despite the official notice arriving on January 1, there is a prevailing belief that Aryal had actually passed away two weeks prior. On January 2, Ward 14 chair Raju Kunwar was informed of the situation and tasked with communicating the distressing news to Aryal’s family.
According to locals, Aryal was known to share videos and photos on social media following his enlistment in the Russian army. According to his relative, Badri Aryal, Hari informed his family that he was joining the Russian army through an agent.
“He took a flight from Kathmandu on October 20,” Badri says. “Even after his recruitment into the Russian army, he was in constant contact with us.”
Within five days of departing from Kathmandu, Aryal captured a selfie donning a Russian army uniform and shared it on social media. In the caption, he wrote, “Whoever takes the risks will move forward.”
His final video, posted on December 4, depicted him travelling in a vehicle with weapons. Alongside the video, he wrote on social media, “This is life. If we live, we will meet; if we die, that’s it.”
Aryal remained in contact with his family until the day after his last post, after which all communication stopped. A few days later, friends relayed the grim news to the village that he had lost his life in the war, yet no official information had reached the family. It was not until January 2 that the consular department provided the family with the official confirmation of his death.
Nepali army to Russian army
Born after two brothers and one sister, Aryal, the youngest member of the family, joined the Nepali Army at the age of 18.
Aryal’s father, a retiree from an Indian government company, had some financial stability. With two brothers working in Dubai and Aryal joining the Nepali army upon his arrival in Kathmandu, the family had a sense of reassurance. However, Aryal expressed dissatisfaction with his position in the Nepali army, mentioning that the salary was insufficient for his aspirations. He often talked about seeking alternative opportunities, feeling that the army job did not align with his goals.
He served in the Nepali army for about two and a half years. While in the Nepali army, he also applied to join the Oman Police.
“He resigned from the army because he needed a certificate to join the Oman police, but his application was rejected,” said Badri. “Then he applied in South Africa, and this time he was scared as he was rejected again.”
During that period, Nepali individuals who had enlisted in the Russian army were actively sharing videos on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Badri recalled the time when Aryal, influenced by these videos, felt tempted to join the Russian army. The family, however, advised him against it.
“We told him not to go,” says Badri.
Hari was enticed by agents recruiting Nepalis into the Russian army, who dangled the promise of an attractive salary. His excitement peaked when he learned that he would travel via Dubai on a visit visa and be directly recruited through the agent. The allure of a potentially lucrative opportunity through this arrangement led him to embark on this journey.
“On the one hand, many people asked why he left the army job. On the other hand, after failing for Oman and South Africa, he seemed to be panicking,” said Badri, “He rushed himself and joined the Russian army within a month.”
Upon reaching Russia via Dubai on a visit visa, Aryal not only joined the army but also extended the opportunity to his friends.
“His close friends expressed the intention to join him later, influenced by his experiences in the Russian army,” says ward chair Kunwar.
According to Aryal’s relative Badri, five individuals from West Nepal, who had left their jobs along with Aryal, have also reached Russia. However, the specific agent through whom they went to Russia remains unknown.
On January 2, following the government’s notification regarding Aryal’s death, arrangements were initiated to inform his parents back home. To perform his final rites, a body was prepared with a kush plant.
“His parents are still quite anxious. It feels like they are still waiting for his phone call,” says Bardi.
