Mumbai : The Centre has said that 202 Indians are believed to have been recruited into the Russian armed forces amid the Ukraine-Russia war, the deadliest and longest since the Second World War. Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, said that concerted efforts by the government have resulted in the early discharge of 119 of them, and efforts are ongoing for the early discharge of 50 individuals.
Junior minister Kirti Vardhan Singh’s answer came on December 17, a day after the bodies of two Indians killed in the Russia-Ukraine war zone arrived at the Delhi airport. The central government had in September repeated its warning to Indians to stay away from the Russia-Ukraine conflict amid fresh reports of men from India being lured into joining the Russian military and sent to the front lines. The MEA said it assisted in the repatriation of the mortal remains of 10 deceased Indian nationals and facilitated the local cremation of two others.
The MEA said it has assisted discharged Indians in returning home by facilitating travel documents and air tickets where required, and has also helped evacuate mortal remains by coordinating DNA-based identification with next of kin and completing documentation for local cremation or transportation to India in close coordination with families once identities are conclusively established.
The disturbing trend of South Asian young men being recruited into either side of the Russia-Ukraine war started in early 2023. It was through deceptive promises of high pay and benefits, that they lured the young men, including those from India. Many travelled to Russia on student or tourist visas, only to be coerced into joining the Russian army, where salaries are reportedly often withheld and escape from frontline deployment is nearly impossible.
In October, reports emerged of Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein, a man from Gujarat, who surrendered to Ukrainian forces after just three days on the frontlines. The Ukrainian military said Hussein, who went to Russia on a study visa, was arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to seven years in prison. Because he didn’t want to serve the prison term, he signed a contract to become a part of the special military operation.
The International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, was formed in February 2022 after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for foreign support. It is a multinational unit of volunteers from over 50 countries. The trend stems from the manpower shortages in Russia and Ukraine, unemployed youths from states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, and shady agents targeting the youth “helping to flee”. Similarly, 30-year-old Rakesh Kumar Maurya from Uttarakhand, who enroled in university in August 2025, was killed in Donbas by late August.
The Centre has said that it was rushing to ensure the safety and speedy repatriation of Indian nationals from the Russian armed forces. It is coordinating closely with the Indian missions in Russia to evacuate mortal remains. DNA-based identification is also being conducted and transportation to India of the ones identified, is being done.
Read Also : Technical Snag : Mumbai-Bound Air India Plane Returns To Delhi As Engine Oil Pressure Drops To Zero Mid Air
-
-
-
-
