India warns citizens: Stay away from offers to join Russian Army
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Ministry of External Affairs has expressed serious concern over the recent reports regarding the recruitment of Indian citizens in the Russian army. In response to media queries, the Ministry's spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Government of India has highlighted the risks and dangers associated with such recruitments several times in the last one year and has advised Indian citizens to be cautious about it.
Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have recently received reports of Indian citizens being recruited into the Russian military. We have raised the issue with Russian authorities in Delhi and Moscow demanding an end to this practice and the release of our citizens."
He also informed that the ministry is in touch with the families of the affected Indian nationals. The spokesperson strongly urged Indian citizens to stay away from any offer to join the Russian army and termed it a 'dangerous step'. The statement comes after recent reports claiming that some Indian citizens were deceitfully sent to the Russia-Ukraine war zone.
A leading newspaper claimed that two Indian men present in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine were brought to Russia on the pretext of construction work but were deployed on the war front. Speaking on the phone from the town of Selidov, which was captured by Russia in November 2024, he claimed that at least 13 other Indians are also stranded in similar circumstances.
According to the report, both these Indians had gone to Russia on student or visitor visa in the last 6 months. They alleged that an agent had promised them employment in the construction sector but they were deceived and sent to the war zone.