In a significant development during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow, Russia has agreed to discharge and facilitate the return of all Indian nationals fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. This milestone was achieved following PM Modi’s discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a private dinner on Monday, sources revealed.
The visit marks PM Modi’s first trip to Russia since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022, with his previous visit occurring in 2019. The two leaders last met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan in 2022.
The plight of Indians coerced into fighting for Russia in the Ukraine conflict has been a pressing issue for New Delhi. Recent reports highlighted cases of Indians falling victim to job frauds, where scammers tricked and forced them to join the Russian army, which accepts recruits from other countries. A group of such individuals recently posted a video on social media, detailing their ordeal and pleading for government intervention.
Tragically, four Indians have been reported killed in the war, while ten have managed to return to India. Approximately 35-40 Indians are still believed to be trapped in Russia.
India’s Foreign Ministry has been actively working to bring back those who were misled by agents. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has expressed that this issue is of “very deep concern” for India and has been engaging with Russian officials over the past few months to secure a resolution.
India has consistently maintained that the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army amidst a conflict does not align with the diplomatic partnership between the two nations. Consequently, India has called for the immediate release and return of all Indian nationals involved and demanded an end to such recruitment practices in the future.
In light of these concerns, the breakthrough achieved during PM Modi’s visit provides significant relief to the families of the recruits still stranded in Russia. Among those affected, Ashvinbhai Mangukiya and Mohammad Asfan, both from Gujarat, were reported killed earlier this year, with two more fatalities reported in June.
