India says about 20 citizens ‘stuck’ in Russian army

India says about 20 citizens ‘stuck’ in Russian army
by AFP Staff Writers
New Delhi (AFP) Feb 29, 2024

India said Thursday it was working to secure discharges for around 20 of its citizens “stuck” in the Russian army, after reports that several were sent to fight in Ukraine.

Two years after Russia’s invasion began, tens of thousands of its soldiers have been killed in Ukraine and Moscow is on a global quest for more combatants.

Several Indian recruits told AFP this month they were lured into joining up by promises of high salaries and a Russian passport before being shipped to the frontlines.

“It is our understanding that 20-odd people are stuck,” foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi.

“We are trying our level best for early discharge. We are in regular touch with Russian authorities both here in Delhi and in Moscow.”

The ministry confirmed last week that an unspecified number of Indian nationals had signed up for “support jobs” in the Russian army.

It said several had already been discharged as a result of its interventions with Russian authorities.

Neither India nor Russia has explicitly confirmed whether they were deployed to fight the war in Ukraine.

Jaiswal said the ministry had “told people not to venture into the war zone”.

The soldiers who spoke with AFP said they had been promised non-combatant roles but were trained to use Kalashnikov assault rifles and other weapons before being sent to Ukraine.

A Russian-language defence ministry contract, signed by the men and seen by AFP, refers to “military service in the armed forces of the Russian Federation”, with a requirement to “participate in hostilities” and “serve the Russian people without limit”.

India is a longstanding ally of Russia and has shied away from explicit condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine.

Analysts say Russian efforts to target recruits from India are just one facet of a global recruitment drive, alongside a vast campaign at home.

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