New Delhi – Russia has promised to repatriate Indians pressured into military service, some of them in Ukraine, after talks between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Up to 50 Indian nationals are believed to have fallen victim to the scheme, with reports of four fatalities on the Ukrainian front.
Between 35 and 50 Indian nationals have been recruited into Russia's wartime forces against their will, according to India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.
After Modi pressed Putin on the issue at a bilateral summit in Moscow this week, the Russian president promised they would receive an early discharge – a move hailed as a diplomatic triumph for India.
Kwatra, who accompanied Modi to Moscow, reported that 10 Indian nationals had already been successfully repatriated through joint efforts with Russia.
The Russian military is believed to have hired thousands of foreign recruits, many of them from India's neighbour Nepal.
Families in India shared harrowing accounts of their relatives' experiences.
Two young men from the northern state of Haryana, Harsh, 19, and Abhishek, 20, travelled to Moscow in January, intending to visit Belarus – but without realising they needed a separate visa to do so.
Instead, they say, they were apprehended by police and given an ultimatum: serve a year in the Russian military or face a decade in prison.
Harsh's brother Sahil told the Indian Express that the men received minimal weapons training or food before being deployed.
Russia, India strengthen military ties but Ukraine war brings disruption
Economic incentive
Families of the missing men were celebrating after Indian officials expressed optimism the recruits would soon be free to return home.
But the incident has fuelled political debate, with opposition figures arguing that it reflects a deeper crisis of poverty and unemployment in India.
The situation highlights a broader trend of Indians seeking better-paying jobs in conflict zones, including Israel, despite the risks involved.
Putin's pledge underscores the enduring relationship between Russia and India, which is historically Russia's closest non-communist ally
Their friendship has continued despite divergent views on Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
India’s tough tightrope walk between the Western bloc and Russia
During Modi's first visit to Russia since the Ukraine conflict began, Foreign Secretary Kwatra emphasized India's stance against the prolonged war. Modi called for dialogue to restore peace and offered India's support in finding peaceful solutions.
Despite these tensions, the two-day trip resulted in ambitious plans to boost bilateral trade from 60 billion to 92 billion euros by 2030.
Russia also sought to reinforce military ties with India, facing competition from France and Israel.
