Russia Grants Permanent Residency to Widow of Punjab Man Killed in Ukraine; Provides Rs 20K Monthly Aid for Children

Amritsar — The Russian government has initiated the process of granting permanent residency (PR) to the family members of Tejpal Singh, a Punjab man who was killed while fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. Tejpal, originally from Chahal Khurd village in Batala, lost his life on March 12, 2024, in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war during the battle in Zaporizhzhia.

Tejpal’s widow, Parminder Kaur, confirmed that she had already been granted PR status. She further shared that Tejpal’s parents and their two children, Armandeep Singh (7) and Gurnaazdeep Kaur (4), will also receive permanent residency once they arrive in Russia.

The Russian government has been providing significant support to the family, including a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000 for each of Tejpal’s children to cover their education and lodging expenses since March.

Parminder, who returned to India after a three-month stay in Moscow this week, mentioned that she has not yet received any updates from the Russian authorities regarding the repatriation of her husband’s mortal remains. She plans to travel back to Moscow in February to complete the necessary paperwork. The entire family intends to visit Russia in May 2025, when the harsh Russian winter will have eased. Once Tejpal’s parents arrive in Russia, they will begin receiving a pension.

Family’s Future Plans and Russian Stay:
While the family does not plan to settle permanently in Russia, Parminder emphasized that they would continue visiting, given the support and residency benefits they have received. She was particularly grateful to an Indian-Russian couple in Moscow who had provided accommodation during her stay and helped her with the bureaucratic process at the Russian army recruitment office.

However, Parminder expressed dissatisfaction with the Indian Embassy in Moscow, accusing them of failing to officially declare Tejpal as “killed in action” in the Russia-Ukraine war. Despite visiting the embassy three times, Parminder claimed she only met a senior official once, and no follow-up assistance was provided to her during her stay.

Tejpal’s Journey to Russia and His Tragic End:
Tejpal Singh, who had previously been rejected by the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and the Punjab Police, had joined the Russian army in search of a better livelihood. With a strong interest in military life and a desire to secure a stable future for his family, he took a somewhat circuitous route to Russia. After flying to Bangkok in December 2023 and staying there for 22 days, he eventually booked a flight to Moscow.

Tejpal had informed Parminder in January 2024 that he had reached Moscow and cleared the Russian army’s medical and physical tests. Tragically, on March 12, 2024, he was killed in combat, leaving his family to navigate the aftermath