(Image source from: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

On Tuesday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that two Indians who were recruited into the Russian army were killed in the Ukraine–Russia war. Following the death of Indians in the Russian military, India demanded to stop recruiting Indians into the Russian army, writing “ activities would not align with our partnership”. Reports say that nearly 20 Indian nationals were appointed to the Russian army last year after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started. Many Indians who reached Russia were turned into helpers in the Russian army and have released many YouTube videos that explained the lucrative salaries promised by the Russian government. Besides these, the Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested four people who were allegedly involved in human trafficking. One of them in the gang was a translator for the Russian Defence Ministry. The four member team were luring young men into Russia with the promise of education or Jobs in Russia and by the end forcing them to fight against Ukraine for Russia.

The Indian Embassy in Moscow has also strongly condemned the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and also with the Russian authorities in Moscow over the return and release of Indian nationals from the Russian army. India also demanded to stop this type of recruitment in future. All the men who were stuck in the Russian army were promised jobs and duped by the agents into fighting and pushed into Russian forces. In April, nearly 10 people who were working in the Russian army as helpers were returned. The foreign ministry released a statement stating, that “ we regret to inform that two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian Army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine”. Officials have not mentioned the names of the victims in their statement. The ministry also cautioned Indians to be careful while seeking jobs in Russia.

Meanwhile other nations like Nepal and Sri Lanka have cautioned their citizens not to fall into the trap of agents who promise jobs and more money. Both countries have seen a spike in human trafficking in the last few months. Kathmandu says that 20 of their men were killed fighting for Russia and 16 former Srilankan soldiers were also killed in this conflict so far. Srilankan government has already spoken with Moscow and got the counterpart saying that “ no further recruitment from Sri Lanka will be done”. In an official statement the external affairs ministry has written, “We regret to state that two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian Army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow respectively, for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army. India has also demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of our nationals by the Russian Army. Such activities would not agree with our partnership”