Avoid joining Russian army, fraught with danger: India amid recruitment reports

India on Thursday once again urged its nationals to stay away from the Russia-Ukraine conflict amid fresh reports of Indian men being lured into joining the Russian military and sent to the front lines.

“We have seen reports about Indian nationals having been recruited recently into the Russian army,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“We have also taken up the matter with Russian authorities, both in Delhi and Moscow, asking that this practice be ended and that our nationals be released. We are also in touch with the families of the affected Indian citizens,” he stated.

Jaiswal said the government has repeatedly underlined the risks of such recruitment.

“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,” he added.

The warning follows several advisories issued by the government cautioning Indians against fraudulent job offers linked to the conflict.

In July, the MEA informed Parliament that 127 Indians had joined the Russian armed forces. Of these, the services of 98 were discontinued following sustained engagement between New Delhi and Moscow, including discussions at the highest levels.

Thirteen Indian nationals remained in the Russian army at the time, of whom 12 were reported missing, the MEA added.

New Delhi was in touch with Moscow to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing Indians, Jaiswal had said earlier this year.

The Russian Embassy in India said last year it was no longer recruiting Indian citizens into its army. The assurance followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in July 2024.

The embassy also said it was working in “close coordination” with Indian authorities to help secure the discharge of Indian nationals already recruited and deployed in Ukraine.

- Ends

Tune In