MEA cautions Indian nationals amid reports of recruitment into Russian army; families demand action
Disturbing video messages shared by anguished families show the young men — many from Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu — wearing Russian military uniforms and pleading for urgent intervention.
PTC News Desk: The Ministry of External Affairs has cautioned its nationals to stay away from Russia-Ukraine conflict after reports of Indian men being lured into the war zones, have surfaced.
“We have seen reports about Indian nationals having been recruited recently into the Russian army,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“We have also taken up the matter with Russian authorities, both in Delhi and Moscow, asking that this practice be ended and that our nationals be released. We are also in touch with the families of the affected Indian citizens,” he stated.
Jaiswal said the government has repeatedly underlined the risks of such recruitment.
“We once again strongly urge all Indian nationals to stay away from any offers to join the Russian army as this is a course fraught with danger,” he added.
Reports of nine Indian nationals recruited into the Russian army to fight in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, have surfaced.
Disturbing video messages shared by anguished families show the young men — many from Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu — wearing Russian military uniforms and pleading for urgent intervention.
“We have been caught in the Russian Army. We are 9 boys. We came here on student visas. We are being grossly mistreated. We’re not getting food, and we’re being sent to the frontline daily,” said Samarjeet Singh from Ludhiana, speaking in Punjabi.