The death of yet another Indian citizen in the war in Ukraine, lured into the Russian armed forces, has compelled the Indian government to reiterate its demand for the return of its citizens. Reports TSN. This was reported by Kontrakty.UA.
This was also reported by The Washington Post.
According to a representative of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cited by the publication, this issue was discussed with Russian authorities in Moscow on Tuesday, January 14, as well as with the Russian embassy in New Delhi.
“We also reiterated our demand for the prompt release of the Indian citizens who remain," he stated.
The publication notes that, according to statements from the Indian government and interviews with the families of men sent to fight in Ukraine, nearly 100 Indians were lured to Russia with offers of work or education, but they were forced to serve in the military.
For its part, the Kremlin denied any wrongdoing or "fraudulent schemes" and promised to release the Indians from the Russian armed forces.
Despite "close coordination" between the two governments, Russia is in no hurry to release mercenaries from India. The fraudulent recruitment into the Russian army over the past year has become a recurring point of tension between Moscow and New Delhi, the publication emphasized.
Families of Indian citizens who died in the war reported that their relatives ended up in the Russian army due to deception by an international network of recruitment agencies and influential individuals on social media, who promised them high salaries for low-skilled jobs such as driving, cooking, plumbing, and electrical repairs. Instead, the Russians sent them to fight, the publication noted.
Two Indians who were recruited by Russia and spoke to journalists described how, upon arrival in the combat zone, they were forced to sign Russian documents, and their passports were confiscated. They emphasized that they were sent to fight without adequate military training.
Last year, when several Indian citizens died in the war in Ukraine, the government in New Delhi managed to secure the release of dozens of men sent for military service, but many of them still remain embroiled in the conflict.
It is worth mentioning that it was previously reported that Russia recruited hundreds of Yemenis to fight against Ukraine.