Forty-five Indian nationals who were illegally coerced into joining the Russian army and forced to fight in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have been rescued and discharged from military service, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed today. Efforts are now underway to rescue and release fifty more Indians who remain trapped on the battlefields.
In a statement, the MEA spokesperson revealed that the Indian government has been working tirelessly to secure the release of its citizens who were misled into joining the Russian army. These individuals had been caught in a human trafficking scheme that lured them to Russia with promises of lucrative jobs or university admissions, only to have their passports confiscated and be trained for combat. Upon completing training, they were deployed to fight against Ukrainian forces.
The operation to rescue the stranded Indians intensified following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Moscow. During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, PM Modi raised the issue of the Indian nationals trapped in combat. President Putin assured Modi that all Indian citizens who had been misled into joining the Russian army would be discharged and returned safely to India.
A human trafficking network operating across India, from New Delhi to Tamil Nadu, played a central role in recruiting unsuspecting individuals. Using social media platforms and local agents, the traffickers promised well-paying jobs and admissions to dubious private universities in Russia. Once these individuals arrived in Russia, their passports were confiscated, and they were trained for combat before being sent to the front lines of the war.
The MEA reports that approximately 100 Indians were trapped in this situation. At least four Indian nationals have been killed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In India, authorities have arrested four individuals connected to the job racket.
A viral video earlier this year highlighted the plight of some of these Indians, with men from Punjab and Haryana, dressed in army uniforms, pleading for help after being tricked into fighting the war in Ukraine.
New Delhi has emphasized that every case brought to its attention is being strongly pursued with Russian authorities to ensure the early discharge of stranded Indian nationals. So far, ten individuals have been safely returned to India as part of the rescue efforts.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reiterated the government’s commitment to taking stringent action against those responsible for duping Indian nationals into joining the Russian military. He had earlier described the situation as “totally unacceptable” and vowed that the “toughest legal action” would be taken against the agents responsible for sending people to the war zone, particularly those targeting students from Kerala.
Prime Minister Modi’s intervention was a pivotal moment in securing the release of the 45 Indian nationals. During his visit to Moscow in July, Modi directly addressed the issue with President Putin, prompting Russia to agree to discharge all Indians serving in the Russian army.
The MEA continues to work closely with Russian authorities to ensure the swift and safe return of the remaining fifty Indian nationals still stranded in the war zone.
The Russia-Ukraine war has proven deadly for at least four Indians caught in the conflict. The government remains steadfast in its efforts to bring back those still trapped and to dismantle the human trafficking networks responsible for this tragedy.
Sources By Agencies
