'We Are Stuck In Russia': SC Asks Centre To Respond On Plea Of Indians Forced To Fight Ukraine War

Last Updated:April 10, 2026, 17:47 IST

Supreme Court asks Centre to respond within a week to plea for safe return of 26 Indians allegedly forced to fight in Russia-Ukraine war after passports were seized.

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to respond to a habeas corpus petition seeking the safe return of 26 Indian nationals who are allegedly stuck in Russia and being forced to fight in the war against Ukraine.

According to LiveLaw, the bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi issued notice to the Centre after hearing the petition.

The counsel for the petitioners, filed by family members of the affected individuals, stated that there had been “continuous and uninterrupted inaction" on the part of the authorities, and claimed that the stranded individuals were being compelled to participate in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“We are stuck in Russia. We are fighting a war against Ukraine for a foreign state unwillingly," the counsel submitted.

This comes days after the body of Sachin Khajuria, 23-year-old from Jammu, who died in the Russia-Ukraine war, reached his native village, Pahariwala.

The petitioners told the SC on Friday that the 26 nationals were on visit to Russia on tourist, student or job visas. However, on their arrival their passports and identity documents were allegedly confiscated, their movement restricted, and they were subjected to coercion and threats, eventually leading to their forced enlistment into military structures associated with the Russian armed forces, LiveLaw reported.

The petitioners further said that the last communications they had received was mostly between September and October last year during which they got to know that the individuals were stationed in or near active conflict zones such as Kupyansk, Selydove, Makiivka and Chelyabinsk.

The families said that in past months, they had submitted repeated representations to authorities including the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Moscow, the Ministry of Home Affairs and State Governments but no concrete information on the matter was given.

According to LiveLaw, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union Government, stated that the matter would be looked into and sought time to take instructions.

The Supreme Court has sought Centre’s response to the matter within one week.

News india 'We Are Stuck In Russia': SC Asks Centre To Respond On Plea Of Indians Forced To Fight Ukraine War

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