India reports over 200 cases of recruitment for war against Ukraine: Details
Illustrative photo: India has managed to bring over 100 people back from Russia (Getty Images)
The Indian government reported at least 200 cases of Indian citizens being recruited by Russian recruiters to fight in the war in Ukraine. At least 26 Indian citizens have died in the war, and seven are reported missing, according to the BBC.
So far, over 200 cases of such recruitment have been reported. More than 100 people have been returned home to Delhi, 26 have died, and seven are reported missing. Negotiations with Russia are ongoing for the repatriation of around 50 more individuals, while some have returned home on their own.
The Kremlin claims that only foreign "volunteers" are recruited into the Russian army, but it is quite clear that this is false. Russian recruiting agents, as relatives of those missing in Ukraine have stated, target young men, luring them into the war with numerous promises.
In particular, they are often promised legal employment with high salaries, accommodation, and official documents. However, upon arrival, Indians are forced to sign contracts in Russian and sent to the front lines.
India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka constantly urge their citizens not to fall for the false promises of Russian recruiters. After it became known that hundreds of citizens from these countries are fighting against Ukraine on Russia’s side, this has caused several scandals.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, since 2022, Russia has recruited foreigners from 128 countries, using fraudulent recruitment centers, private companies, and state channels through its diplomatic and cultural institutions.
Residents of Asian countries do not make up the largest group of mercenaries. The majority of mercenaries fighting for Russia come from North Korea and Central Asia. There are also many from various African countries.
There have also been several scandals regarding this, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged African countries to take decisive measures to stop Russian schemes that lure young people across the continent to fight against Ukraine.
For more details on how this recruitment happens, what Africans are doing on the front lines, how they end up in captivity, and what they think of the Russians afterward, see the full report by RBC-Ukraine.
