In the wake of distressing reports revealing that several Indian citizens were ensnared into joining military service in Russia under false pretenses, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed their involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The ministry assured on Friday (Feb 23) that efforts are underway to coordinate with Russian authorities for the safe release of these citizens.
The concerning revelation emerged after it was uncovered that numerous Indians, promised support roles within Russian territory, were deceitfully recruited into the Russian military by unscrupulous travel agents. Despite being misled with inaccurate translations of documents, they found themselves undergoing military training against their original understanding.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, addressed the issue, acknowledging that some Indian nationals had indeed signed up for support positions with the Russian army. The ministry further emphasized their continuous efforts through the Indian Embassy to engage with Russian authorities, urging all Indian citizens to exercise caution and steer clear of the conflict.
Prior to the ministry’s statement, the family of one of the affected individuals, Sufiyan, sought assistance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Their appeal for intervention was initially directed to Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi, followed by a call for action from the Modi government and the External Affairs Ministry. A video sent by Sufiyan to his family depicted him in army attire, disclosing their victimization by recruitment fraud.
