Forced To The Frontline: Indians Told Not To Join Russian Army After Reports Of 15 Citizens Stuck In War

India has issued a fresh warning to its nationals against joining the Russian armed forces after reports that young men were lured to Moscow with false job offers and pushed into combat roles in Ukraine.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had cautioned citizens “on several occasions over the past year” about the dangers of such recruitment. Officials added that New Delhi has taken up recent cases with Russian authorities and is in contact with families of those affected.

What triggered the latest advisory?

The warning followed accounts carried by The Hindu and The Times of India. The Hindu reported that Sumit Sharma, 22, from Jammu, travelled to Moscow about six months ago on a student visa to study at the Moscow State Linguistic University.

While seeking part-time work, he said a woman promised him construction jobs but instead made him sign papers in Russian and sent him to a military camp. “Without any training they have brought us to an occupied area in Ukraine and are not letting us leave.

We have been cheated, we are stuck here,” Sharma said. He claimed there were 15 Indians with him, four missing and feared dead, and that repeated appeals to the Indian embassy had brought no relief. Videos from the group appealed to the government to rescue them.

Among them was Gursevak Singh, 26, from Gurdaspur, Punjab, who said seven Indians were being held in a building in Ukraine and that he had been told he would be moved forward the next day. He referred to a companion from Rajasthan who had gone missing after recording what he feared could be his last message.

The Times of India reported that two men from Kumhariya village in Haryana’s Fatehabad district, Ankit Jangra and Vijay Poonia, said they were forced into Russian military service and sent into Ukraine.

In videos sent to their families, they said they were issued uniforms, given ten days of weapons training and ordered to “capture” territory in forested areas. “We have only 2–3 days left. Whoever goes ahead from here does not come back,” one message said.

In another clip, a group that included Ankit, Vijay, Buta Singh from Punjab, and Sunil Sharma and Sachin from Jammu pleaded for help: “We request the CM, PM, BJP, Punjab govt to get us out. This may be our last video.

We have been cheated.” Relatives told the newspaper an agent promised security jobs worth ₹2.5 lakh per month, arranged tickets, and pressured the men to sign documents in Russian. Survivors said the original group had around 15 men from several states and that only five or six are believed to be alive.

How has India framed its warning?

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen reports about Indian nationals having been recruited recently into the Russian army.

Government has on several occasions over the past one year underlined the risks and dangers inherent in this course of action and cautioned Indian citizens accordingly.” He added, “We once again strongly urge all Indian nationals to stay away from any offers to join the Russian army as this is a course fraught with danger.”

What is India asking Russia to do?

The MEA told the Rajya Sabha on July 24, 2025 that 127 Indian nationals were in the Russian armed forces. It said the services of 98 had since been discontinued following sustained engagement between the two governments, while 13 remained; 12 of those were reported missing by the Russian side.

Officials said New Delhi has raised the matter with Russian counterparts in both Delhi and Moscow, calling for such recruitment to end and for Indian nationals to be released. The government said it is in touch with affected families.

The Russian embassy in Delhi stated on August 10, 2024 that Indians would no longer be admitted into its army and said it was working with Indian authorities to facilitate discharges. Russia’s war in Ukraine has continued since February 2022.