India on Thursday urged its citizens not to accept any offers to join the Russian Army. The government also asked Moscow to end the practice of recruiting Indians as support staff in its military. The India urges Russia to stop recruiting Indians warning came after reports revealed that some Indians on student and business visas were forced into Russian military units fighting in Ukraine.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it raised the issue with Russian officials in both Delhi and Moscow. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal explained that the government has consistently warned Indians of the serious risks linked to such recruitment.
“We have seen fresh reports of Indian nationals joining the Russian army,” Jaiswal said. “Over the past year, we have underlined the dangers and cautioned citizens to stay away from these offers.”
The ministry urged Indians abroad to remain alert and not get misled by agents or recruiters. Officials added that those already caught in this situation face extreme danger on the battlefield. India continues to press Russia to immediately stop recruiting its nationals.
