The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a stern advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid accepting any offers to join the Russian military, citing serious risks and deceptive recruitment practices. The warning comes in response to recent reports that several Indian citizens were misled with promises of construction jobs and subsequently forced into combat roles in Ukraine.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have seen reports about Indian nationals having been recruited recently into the Russian army. The government has on several occasions over the past year underlined the risks and dangers inherent in this course of action and cautioned Indian citizens accordingly”.
The advisory follows revelations from two Indian men currently in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, who claimed they were lured to Russia under false pretenses and deployed to the battlefield. They entered Russia within the past six months on student or visitor visas. According to their account, at least 13 other Indians are in similar circumstances.
India has formally raised the issue with Russian authorities in both New Delhi and Moscow, demanding an immediate end to such recruitment practices and the safe release of affected nationals. The government is also in contact with the families of those trapped and has reiterated its appeal for citizens to avoid any such offers.
“This is a course fraught with danger,” Jaiswal emphasized, adding that the MEA remains committed to ensuring the safety and repatriation of Indian nationals caught in conflict zones.
Earlier this year, the MEA informed Parliament that 127 Indian nationals had joined the Russian armed forces. Following diplomatic engagement, 98 were discharged, but 13 remained, with 12 reported missing. The Russian Embassy in India later stated that it had ceased recruiting foreign nationals, including Indians, into its military as of April 2024.
The advisory underscores growing concerns over the safety of Indian citizens abroad, particularly in conflict-affected regions, and reflects New Delhi’s firm stance against unauthorized military involvement.
