Families across India say their relatives left home seeking overseas employment, only to find themselves coerced into fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. According to reporting by NBC News, men recruited with promises of civilian jobs such as cooks or housekeepers allege they were instead sent to military training camps and deployed to the front lines after arriving in Russia.
One such case involves Azad Yousuf Kumar, a 31 year old from Pulwama in Indian administered Kashmir. His mother, Raja Begum, said Kumar paid a large recruitment fee after being promised work in Dubai. Once there, he was told no jobs were available and was persuaded to travel to Russia for kitchen work. Instead, she said, he was taken to a military facility near Moscow, trained in weapons use, and forced to sign a contract he did not understand before being sent toward active combat zones.
Relatives claim similar stories have emerged from multiple families, with some alleging recruitment links to online job promoters operating through social media. Kumar’s brother said dozens of Indian nationals may have been misled in the same way and later deployed under Russian military command in occupied parts of Ukraine. Attempts by journalists to contact the recruiters involved were unsuccessful.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has acknowledged that at least 35 Indian nationals were recruited under false pretenses, trained for combat, and sent to fight against their will. The agency said several victims were seriously injured and confirmed arrests related to suspected human trafficking networks, along with the seizure of cash and electronic records.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it is working with Russian authorities to secure the return of affected citizens and has warned Indians against traveling to conflict zones. Officials emphasized India’s commitment to the welfare of its nationals, even as families accuse authorities of acting too slowly.
At least two Indian citizens have been confirmed killed while fighting alongside Russian forces near the Russia Ukraine border. Their deaths have intensified calls for accountability and action against recruiters. Some families now say they feel compelled to travel to Russia themselves in hopes of bringing their loved ones home, underscoring the desperation and human cost behind the ongoing conflict.
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