When Hemil Mangukiya from Gujarat, India, left his home for what he believed would be a security job in Russia, little did his family know that it would be the last time they saw him. Mangukiya’s harrowing journey from a hopeful job seeker to a coerced combatant in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has opened the world’s eyes to a troubling scam: the recruitment of Indian men under false pretenses to fight in a war zone they never intended to enter.
The revelation that Indian men have been tricked into fighting for Russia in Ukraine is sending shockwaves through their home country and raising urgent concerns about the fate of potentially hundreds of such individuals. While the exact number remains unclear, reports suggest dozens, if not hundreds, of Indian citizens have been ensnared by deceptive recruitment practices, lured by promises of well-paying jobs abroad.
One of the latest victims to be identified is Mohammad Afsan, whose family was under the impression that he was employed as a security guard in Moscow. His brother Mohammad Imran expressed the heart-wrenching realization that Afsan was, in fact, sent to a war zone: “He had no idea he was being sent to a war zone.”
This sinister operation extends beyond India’s borders, with Nepal recently banning citizens from working in Russia or Ukraine after learning that thousands might have been incorporated into the Russian armed forces under false pretenses.
Families report that their loved ones, in some cases believing they were flying out for jobs in Dubai, were instead transported to Russia and later sent to the frontlines. A video circulated on social media brought to light the plight of seven men from Punjab who claim they were detained in Belarus and forced into combat. In the video, one of the men, identified as Gagandeep Singh, says, “Now they are forcing us to fight in the war against Ukraine.”
These men are often from impoverished backgrounds and are convinced to sign contracts in languages they do not understand, only to find their passports confiscated and themselves committed to the Russian armed forces. After brief weapons training, they find themselves in some of the most brutal conflict zones, such as Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
The story of Azad Yousuf Kumar from Kashmir is a stark example. He sought employment as a domestic worker in Dubai but was sent instead to a Russian military training camp, later dispatched to a unit in Ukraine. His brother Sajad describes the grim situation: “He has been posted in a dangerous war zone, and he has to see injured every day, many with lost limbs and torn bodies.”
Amid this crisis, the Indian government has acknowledged the presence of 20 Indians in the Russian army and is reportedly working for their early discharge. The families of these men, many of whom believed they were signing up for civilian roles like “military helpers” or “security guards,” are imploring authorities for their safe return. The embassy of India in Moscow has stated that it has been addressing the issue with relevant Russian authorities for the release of these individuals.
Relevant articles:
– Indian Men ‘Tricked’ Into Fighting in Ukraine Appeal for Help
– ‘He had no idea he was being sent to a war zone’: the Indian and Nepalese men on frontlines in Ukraine, The Guardian, Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:02:00 GMT
– Indian families beg for safe return of men tricked into fighting for Russia: ‘we’re worried sick’, South China Morning Post, Mon, 04 Mar 2024 10:30:11 GMT
– An Indian science graduate was promised a job in Dubai but was tricked into fighting for Russia, reports say, Business Insider, Sun, 03 Mar 2024 13:05:00 GMT