New Delhi, April 24 -- The Central government (Ministry of External Affairs) informed the Supreme Court on Friday that several Indian nationals had voluntarily entered into contracts that eventually placed them in the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone.

Responding to the Court's notice on petitions filed by the families of 26 Indian men stuck in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, seeking repatriation of the living and mortal remains of the ones killed, the Centre also submitted before a bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant that 10 of the 26 men have been killed so far in the conflict.

"10 of the 26 persons have died. One is booked in a criminal case. One is deliberately continuing. They are voluntarily signing contracts. There a...