Forty-five Indian nationals, who were illegally forced to join the Russian army and fight in the ongoing war against Ukraine, have been rescued and discharged from the Russian military, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced today. However, 50 more Indians remain trapped on the battlefields, with efforts underway to secure their release.
The alarming situation first surfaced in January when media reports revealed that several young Indians had been duped into enlisting in the Russian military under false promises of lucrative jobs. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar later confirmed that around 80-90 Indians had been tricked into fighting in the war.
During a recent visit to Moscow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who assured him that all Indians misled into joining the Russian military would be released. The rescue of the first group of 45 is a significant step toward fulfilling that promise.
Jaishankar has vowed “toughest legal action” against agents who lured these youths, particularly from Kerala, into the conflict. “It is totally unacceptable that any Indian should be taken to a conflict zone and made to work for an army,” Jaishankar had declared earlier this year.