India returns 85 of its citizens who were recruited into the Russian military

22 October, 2024 Indian citizens recruited into the Russian Armed Forces, March 6, 2024. India has announced that it has returned 85 of its citizens who were recruited into the Russian military. Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misra said in an official statement that the Indian authorities continue to work on the release of another 20 people.

The issue of the release of Indians has become a key one for New Delhi after at least nine Indian citizens were killed on the frontline of the war in Ukraine. Indian authorities are in close contact with the Russian Foreign and Defense Ministries regarding citizens called up for military service. According to Misra, about 85 people have already returned home, although there have been cases of returning the bodies of the dead.

About 20 Indians are still in the Russian military, and the Indian authorities are working hard to get them released. The recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army was stopped in April 2024. At the same time, India has stated that many of its citizens have been deceived by unscrupulous employment agents.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has already opened criminal cases against 19 people involved in recruitment and made several arrests. In August, Indian MP Vikramjit Singh Sahneib stated that more than 90 Indian citizens had been deceived into fighting against Ukraine on the side of Russia, at least eight of whom were killed.

According to Singh, most Indian citizens who end up in the war are invited to Russia ostensibly to find work and then forced to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense without an interpreter. Often, people realize that they are at the front only after they arrive.

Recently, it was announced that India has increased its exports of critical sanctioned technologies to Russia.