45 Indians Discharged From Russian Army, More Stuck

File photo: The Moscow Times

MOSCOW (ANI) – Forty-five Indian nationals who were recruited by the Russian military to fight against Ukraine have been pulled from the battlefield and discharged, India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on September 12. However, around fifty more Indians remain on the frontlines of the ongoing conflict, and efforts are underway to secure their release, according to a ministry spokesperson.

A human trafficking network, stretching from New Delhi to Gujarat, lured these individuals to Russia through promises of high-paying jobs or educational opportunities, often advertised on social media. Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated, and they were forced into training for the army and sent to the Ukraine war front.

Indian authorities have arrested at least four individuals involved in the scheme.

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has vowed “the toughest legal action” against agents who tricked Indian citizens, into joining Russia’s war effort. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also raised the issue during a visit to Moscow in July in his visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.