NEW DELHI

India is awaiting the release of 69 of its nationals recruited into the Russian army to fight in Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said on Friday.

Eight of the 91 Indian nationals recruited into the Russian army have died, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told lawmakers during questions in Parliament.

"Fourteen of them have been discharged or in some manner have come back with our assistance. And there are 69 Indian citizens who are awaiting release from the Russian army," Jaishankar added.

He also said that during a visit to Moscow last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

India's premier investigating and prosecuting agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, announced in May the arrest of four people on charges of trafficking Indian nationals for combat roles in the Russian armed forces.

India is one of Russia's major economic partners and has exponentially increased its imports of Russian crude oil in recent months.