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Russia Forces Indian Students Into War in Ukraine Through Fake Jobs and Visas
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has launched a new wave of recruiting Indian nationals into its armed forces, often by deception and coercion, according to The Times of India on September 23.
The cases involve individuals who traveled legally to Russia for study or work and were later forced into military service and deployed to the front lines in Ukraine.
One example is Rakesh Kumar, a 30-year-old from Uttarakhand state, who traveled to Russia on a student visa on August 7, 2025, to attend St. Petersburg University.
His family told The Times of India that within weeks he reported unexpected developments. On August 30, Kumar phoned his brother, saying he had been compelled to enlist in the Russian military and was being prepared for deployment to the combat zone.
Soon after, his family received photographs showing him in Russian uniform. In a final call from an unknown number, he said his documents had been confiscated, his electronic accounts deleted, and that he had undergone training in Donbas. Contact was lost after that conversation.
According to The Times of India, Kumar’s relatives appealed to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the embassy in Moscow, and local authorities.
The case is part of a broader pattern. At least 20 Indian citizens, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have reported being misled and forced into Russian service in recent months.
This is not the first instance of Indian nationals caught in the war. In October 2024, India repatriated 85 citizens who had been recruited into the Russian military, following reports that at least nine Indians had been killed on the battlefield.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has since opened criminal cases against 19 people involved in recruitment schemes and carried out several arrests.
Indian lawmaker Vikramjit Singh Sahney told The Times of India that most citizens were lured to Russia under the pretense of employment.
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“They are invited for jobs and then, without a translator, forced to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defence,” he said. Many only realize they are bound for the front lines after being transported to military facilities.
The issue underscores Moscow’s continued reliance on foreign nationals to reinforce its armed forces, while New Delhi faces pressure to protect its citizens abroad.
Earlier, Ukrainska Pravda reported on September 22 that Russia, working with Iran, is recruiting mercenaries from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and other Middle Eastern countries to fight in Ukraine.
According to security services, Moscow and Tehran are also targeting former ISIS fighters, using illegal migration routes through Iran, the Caucasus, and Central Asia to bring recruits into Russia, where they are promised payments of up to $8,000 and eventual citizenship.
