Kathrine Frich
From Moscow to the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, an increasing number of stories are emerging of Indian men fighting, and dying, in Russia’s war.
Some say they went seeking work or education, only to find themselves in military uniforms thousands of miles from home.
Others reportedly signed contracts with Russian recruiters who promised high salaries and citizenship.
What began as scattered rumours has turned into a mounting concern for Indian authorities and human rights groups.
Families across India now say their relatives were deceived into joining a conflict they never intended to fight, trapped in a war that is not their own.
Families demand answers
Dozens of protesters gathered in the Indian capital holding signs addressed to President Vladimir Putin, urging him to “stop forcing [Indians] to war.”
Demonstrators said their sons and brothers had been offered jobs or student visas in Russia, only to be transferred to the frontlines shortly after arrival.
Videos from the rally show people shouting “Bring our children back” and “Our sons are not soldiers of Russia.”
Many of those who joined the protest said they had not heard from their relatives for weeks.
Allegations of deception
According to participants quoted in Indian media, recruitment agents promised well-paid positions in Russia or access to study visas.
Once there, the men were reportedly sent for military training and then deployed in Ukraine.
One woman told reporters her family sold land and jewellery to fund her son’s travel to Russia.
“When he told us he had been recruited into the army, we advised him to leave, but it was already too late,” she said.
A friend of a wrestler from India claimed he was injured in a drone strike while digging trenches on the frontline, despite travelling on a student visa.
Growing campaign
A local campaign group in New Delhi has now gathered signatures from at least 27 families demanding that the Indian government secure their relatives’ release. Organisers say hundreds of families could be affected nationwide.
Protesters argue that their relatives are being used as expendable fighters because they are foreign citizens.
“Their lives are not valued,” one campaign member said. Indian officials have yet to comment publicly on the allegations.
Voices from the front
Several messages allegedly sent from the warzone have circulated online.
One man reportedly told his family, “We are being forced to go to the frontline. We were given 20 days of training, and 15 men who were with us have already died.”
Another message read, “If there’s no contact for three days, understand that I am not alive.”
Families say many of the men have been unreachable for days or weeks. One mother said her son had been promised civilian work but was later conscripted.
“He has been put on the frontline, and there has been no contact with him for many days. We request immediate help to bring him back,” she said.
Sources: The Express, East2West News, Indian media reports
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
