7 more Indians release video, say forced to fight Ukraine war by Russian army

“We came to visit Russia as tourists for the New Year on December 27 and met an agent who helped us visit different places. He offered to take us to Belarus, but we were not aware we would need a visa for the country. We went to Belarus where we gave money to him, but he demanded more money. He abandoned us on a highway as we didn’t have the money to pay him,” one of the men can be heard saying in Hindi in the video.

“We were then caught by the police who handed us over to the Russian army. They locked us in some unknown place for around three to four days. They later forced us to sign a contract with them to work as helpers, drivers, and cooks and threatened to send us to jail for 10 years if we didn’t. The contract was in their language which we could not understand, but we signed it. They enrolled us in a training centre and we realised later that they had cheated us. They enrolled us in their army and gave training,” he claims.

“After training, we were dropped off in Ukraine and they put some of our friends on the frontline. And now they are saying they will push us to the frontline. We are not ready for any war and we cannot even hold guns properly, but they are forcing us to fight in the war against Ukraine. We are hoping that the Indian government and embassy will help us,” he adds.

So far, several men from Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Telangana have been trapped fighting Russia’s war with Ukraine. Most of them looking for better jobs, landed in Russia after being duped through a YouTube channel promising more money. The Indian Express spoke to the families of these men who said they were tricked into believing they were applying for jobs as helpers in offices of the Russian government, mostly in Moscow, but were forced to head to the frontlines.

Last week, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing that some 20 Indians, working as support staff or helpers with the Russian Army, have contacted Indian authorities for assistance.

“We have an understanding that something like 20-odd people are stuck. We are trying our level best for their early discharge… We have also told people not to venture into the war zone or get caught in difficult situations. We are trying our best and we are in touch, regular touch with Russian authorities both here in New Delhi and also in Moscow and we are trying to do our best. We are deeply committed to the welfare of all our Indians,” said Jaiswal.

The spokesperson said the Indians are in various places and that the Indian Embassy is in touch with Russian authorities “to get them out”.