'Russia should stop recruiting Indians in its army', Foreign Ministry's strong message; PM Modi had also raised the issue with Putin

News Topical, Digital Desk : Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, there have been new reports of recruitment of Indian citizens in the Russian army. Taking this seriously, the Indian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday. It has asked Indians to be cautious about offers to join the Russian army.

The ministry has advised all Indians to stay away from any offer to join the Russian army, calling it a path full of dangers. This statement of the ministry shows that agencies involved in recruiting Indians in the Russian army are active in some way or the other.

What did the Foreign Ministry say?

This is the situation when India has been talking to Russia about this for a long time. Last year, PM Narendra Modi had also raised this issue with President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Russia. Also, warnings have been issued regarding this issue several times in the last one year.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has said that we have seen reports of recent recruitment of Indian citizens in the Russian army. The government has on several occasions in the last one year informed about the risks and dangers inherent in this action and has also alerted Indian citizens about it. India has raised this issue with Russian officials in Delhi and Moscow. It has demanded to end such recruitment process and release of the affected Indians. The ministry is also in touch with the affected families.

The issue has also been raised in Parliament

By the way, this issue has been raised in Parliament many times before. In July 2025, the Rajya Sabha was told by the Ministry of External Affairs that 127 Indian citizens were reported to be serving in the Russian army. After high-level talks between India and Russia, the service of 98 Indians was terminated. At least 15 Indians were then reported to be trapped in the war zone of Ukraine. It was also revealed that these Indians are being forced to fight against Ukraine on behalf of Russia.

It is worth noting that in the last one year, there have been reports of some Indians being killed in the Russia-Ukraine war. The relatives of the Indians who are stuck in Russia have earlier told that they were taken there on the basis of false information by agents and were pressurised to join the war.

What did the Russian embassy say?

After India raised this issue, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi said that it will not recruit Indians in its army. It was even said that Russia does not need Indians for the war. But media reports suggest that some Indians have still been taken there.

Last year, just after PM Modi raised this issue with Putin in Moscow in July 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation in India took action against the human trafficking network. Agents were caught who were taking Indians from various parts of the country to Russia on the promise of giving them jobs.

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