A 32-year-old man from Kerala, Binil T B, has been killed while fighting on the frontlines for the Russian Army in the ongoing war with Ukraine. His relative, 27-year-old Jain T K, has sustained serious injuries. The two men, both from Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district, had been caught up in the war after being recruited by Russia under the pretence of jobs in military support roles.
Binil’s Death was Confirmed by Indian Embassy
The family of the deceased received heartbreaking news recently, confirming that Binil had died in a drone attack. Binil’s wife, Joicy, who had been in contact with the Indian Embassy in Moscow, was verbally informed by officials that her husband had passed away. The information was reportedly shared by the Russian Army. Jain, who was also injured in the attack, has yet to recover from his wounds.
Saneesh, a relative of the two men, revealed that Binil’s family had received an initial message indicating that both men had been injured. However, they were unable to reach them to confirm their status until Joicy received confirmation from the embassy, reports Indian Express.
Ajith Kolassery, the CEO of NORKA ROOTS, a state government agency working for the welfare of non-resident Keralites, expressed concern over the ongoing situation. He stated, “We have heard about the incident and are waiting for a final confirmation from the Ministry of External Affairs. For the last few months, we have been trying to bring them back, but we don’t know exactly how many Keralites are still trapped in the Russian army.”
Desperate Pleas for Return
For several months, Binil and Jain had been attempting to return home, even reaching out to the Indian Embassy in Moscow. In a series of voice messages shared with The Indian Express last month, Binil had shared the hardships they were facing. Despite trying since September, the men’s efforts to leave Russia and return to India had been unsuccessful.
Binil, a former electrician from Kerala, spoke of the harrowing conditions they were enduring. “Mentally and physically, we are exhausted,” he had said in one of his messages. He described the harsh reality of being stationed in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, with their commanders refusing to release them despite repeated pleas.
Trapped in Military Service
Binil and Jain, along with several other young men from Kerala, had traveled to Russia earlier this year, seeking jobs in military support services such as electricians, cooks, plumbers, and drivers. However, they were made to surrender their Indian passports, take up permanent residence in Russia, and were conscripted into the Russian Army. Instead of the jobs they had been promised, they were forced to fight on the frontlines of the conflict, a situation they had desperately tried to escape.
This incident marks the second death of a Keralite recruited to fight in the Russian Army. In August 2024, Sandeep, a native of Thrissur, was killed in a drone attack while serving in the Russian military. These deaths highlight a troubling trend of Indian youths being lured into military support roles in Russia, only to be conscripted into active combat roles, putting their lives in peril.
The plight of Binil and Jain underscores the need for greater vigilance and support for foreign nationals caught in such situations, as well as the urgent need for diplomatic intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian citizens abroad.