Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 12: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong advisory cautioning Indian citizens against joining the Russian army, calling the path “fraught with danger”, after reports emerged that at least nine Indian nationals had recently been recruited to fight in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government has consistently highlighted the risks and dangers associated with such recruitment. “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,” he stated.
Jaiswal added that India had taken up the matter with Russian authorities in both Delhi and Moscow, pressing for the release of the nationals and demanding an end to such practices. Families of those trapped are also in close contact with Indian authorities, he said.
Disturbing videos shared by relatives have surfaced, showing young men—reportedly from Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu—wearing Russian military uniforms and pleading for urgent intervention.
Samarjeet Singh from Ludhiana, speaking in Punjabi, said, “We have been caught in the Russian army. We are nine youths. We came here on student visas. We are being grossly mistreated. We are not getting food and are being sent to the frontline daily.”
Echoing similar fears, Sumeet Sharma from Jammu said, “We have been deceived by agents. We request the BJP government to help us as soon as possible.”
Another youth, Buta Singh, claimed that some among them had already lost their lives in the fighting. “We were promised work in Moscow. Instead, we are trapped in a war. The situation is dire, get us out immediately,” he urged.
Over the past year, several families from Punjab and Haryana have complained that their sons were misled by unscrupulous agents and forced into frontline combat. Despite approaching authorities, including the Indian embassy in Moscow, they allege little progress has been made. Some families even travelled to Russia themselves in desperate attempts to secure help.