Lured with the promise of lucrative jobs overseas, numerous Indian and Nepali men have found themselves ensnared in a treacherous trap, coerced into the ranks of the Russian military and pushed onto the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. These men, many from impoverished villages with limited job prospects, have been deceived by misleading job advertisements, unscrupulous agents, and recruitment platforms, including YouTube channels promising non-combatant roles or lucrative security work in places like Russia, Germany, and Dubai.
Hemil Mangukiya, a 23-year-old from Gujarat, India, believed he was heading to Russia for a secure job. Instead, he found himself undergoing a brief military training and then thrust into the conflict, where he ultimately perished in a missile strike. His father, Ashwin Mangukiya, was left devastated, stating, “I think he hid from us the danger he was in.”
The situation has spiraled to such an extent that Nepal’s government felt compelled to outright ban citizens from seeking employment in Russia or Ukraine. Despite this, anecdotal evidence suggests that up to thousands may have already been enlisted in the Russian forces, with at least 12 Nepalis confirmed dead, though other organizations suggest the toll is higher.
Men who arrived in Russia often recount harrowing tales of being duped into signing contracts they couldn’t understand and having their passports confiscated, effectively trapping them. Nandaram Pun from Nepal, for example, was promised a job in Germany only to end up in the beleaguered city of Bakhmut, caught in the crossfire of one of the war’s most protracted battles. His grim wish now is to avoid healing, fearing that recovery would mean redeployment to the war zone.
Among the broken dreams is also the story of Mohammad Afsan, a clothes salesman from Hyderabad, India, who traveled to Moscow after being recruited by a YouTube channel for a security guard job. He was promised citizenship after a year, but instead, his life was cut short when he was allegedly coerced to join the military and killed at the border.
This week, a video circulated on social media showing seven individuals from Punjab, India, stating that they had gone to Russia as tourists for New Year’s but were instead taken to Belarus by an agent and held against their will. “The police handed us over to Russian authorities, who made us sign documents,” said one of the men in the video, identified as Gagandeep Singh. “Now they are forcing us to fight in the war against Ukraine.”
These stories are not isolated incidents but rather a glimpse into a dark web of international human trafficking networks uncovered by Indian authorities. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has identified a “major human trafficking network,” which has targeted young men using social media platforms and local agents. About 35 men have been sent to Russia in the scheme, with reports indicating some have been “grievously injured” in the war zone.
In the grip of desperation, these men and their families have been reaching out for help. The Indian government, while maintaining a close relationship with Russia, has acknowledged a number of its citizens working for the Russian army and is attempting to secure their discharge. Nepal has likewise been involved in trying to repatriate its citizens, with mixed success.
Relevant articles:
– ‘He had no idea he was being sent to a war zone’: the Indian and Nepali men on frontlines in Ukraine
– Thousands of Nepalese citizens duped by Russian job recruiters into fighting on front lines in Ukraine, New York Post, Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:56:00 GMT
– India says it uncovers trafficking racket duping people into fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Yahoo Singapore News, Fri, 08 Mar 2024 12:05:05 GMT
– Russia has recruited as many as 15,000 Nepalis to fight its war. Many returned traumatized. Some never came back., CNN, Sun, 11 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT