New Delhi, Sep 12: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday issued a stern advisory urging Indian citizens to avoid any offers to join the Russian Army, warning that such a move is “fraught with dangers.”
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is aware of recent reports about Indians being recruited into the Russian military, which is currently engaged in the war in Ukraine. “The Government has repeatedly underlined the risks and dangers inherent in this course of action and cautioned Indian citizens accordingly,” he stated.
Jaiswal added that India has formally raised the matter with Russian authorities in both New Delhi and Moscow, demanding that the recruitment practice be stopped immediately and that affected Indian nationals be released. “We are also in contact with the families of the citizens involved,” he said.
The advisory follows reports that some Indians were reportedly lured to Russia under the pretext of construction jobs but were subsequently sent to the frontlines in Ukraine. One individual claimed he was deployed in Selydove, a Ukrainian town captured by Russian forces last year, and alleged that over a dozen more Indians were recruited under similar false pretenses.
The MEA reiterated that joining the Russian Army poses serious risks and strongly urged citizens to steer clear of such offers.