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India Says More Than 200 Citizens Recruited by Russia to Fight in Ukraine, 26 Killed
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The Indian government has confirmed that more than 200 of its citizens have been recruited by Russian agents to fight in the war in Ukraine. At least 26 Indian nationals have been killed, and seven others are reported missing, according to the BBC on December 18.
India has successfully repatriated over 100 individuals who were lured into joining Russia’s military forces. Negotiations are ongoing with Moscow for the return of approximately 50 more, while some have managed to return home independently.
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Despite the Kremlin’s official claim that only foreign “volunteers” are enlisted, evidence suggests otherwise. According to testimonies from families of missing individuals, Russian recruiters specifically target young men in India and other South Asian nations with false promises of well-paying jobs, legal work status, accommodation, and official documentation.
Once in Russia, many are coerced into signing military contracts written in Russian and are then sent to the frontlines in Ukraine.
Governments in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have repeatedly warned their citizens not to fall for the deceptive offers made by Russian recruitment agents. Reports that hundreds of their nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine have sparked diplomatic tensions and domestic outrage.
According to Bohdan Okhrymenko, head of the Secretariat of the Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner of War Affairs, Ukraine has captured 136 foreign fighters recruited by Russia from 37 countries.
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The largest contingents of foreign fighters reportedly supporting Russia come from North Korea and Central Asian countries, with an increasing presence of recruits from various African nations.
Earlier, soldiers from Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Battalion “Skelya” captured two Colombians in Pokrovsk who had been fighting on the side of Russia.
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