India has confirmed that 51 Indian nationals recruited into the Russian Army have died, while 139 have been discharged, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. India has information on 227 Indians who were recruited, many allegedly through risky overseas job offers made by unscrupulous agents promising high-paying roles abroad.
Misri, speaking in Bishkek, said India has raised the issue with Russia “at various levels on multiple occasions”, and the Indian embassy in Moscow is closely monitoring developments. He emphasised that New Delhi remains in active discussions with Russian authorities to ensure the release and repatriation of all remaining Indian nationals still serving.
Misri noted that some of the recruits were employed in support roles such as cooks and helpers, not frontline combat positions. However, several were reportedly pushed into dangerous situations once inside Russia’s military system. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has repeatedly warned Indians against accepting high-risk overseas job offers, especially those involving conflict zones or military-linked employment.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal earlier confirmed that India’s efforts had already secured the release of 139 nationals, and the government continues to pursue the discharge of around two dozen more who remain in service.
India has urged citizens to avoid dubious recruitment schemes and to verify all overseas job offers through official channels to prevent exploitation.