The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a fresh advisory urging Indian nationals to refrain from joining the Russian armed forces, amid continued reports of Indians being recruited to serve in Russia’s military operations against Ukraine.
The advisory, issued on Wednesday, comes after further instances of Indian nationals joining the Russian army were reported, with the Ministry noting that some individuals were recruited willingly while others were allegedly misled about the nature of the employment being offered to them.
According to the Ministry, Indians have been drawn into the Russian armed forces through several routes. These include offers of non-combatant employment, recruitment through social media and promises of financial benefits. In some cases, individuals reportedly approached opportunities with the expectation that they could later seek release from military service through the intervention of the Indian government.
The Ministry strongly discouraged such an approach, reiterating that joining the Russian armed forces is a dangerous course of action.
The advisory also highlighted cases involving Indian nationals who sought to give up their Indian citizenship, obtain Russian passports and subsequently join the Russian armed forces. The Ministry said some individuals had already taken such steps without consulting Indian authorities after being attracted by temporary monetary benefits.
Indian nationals were advised to understand the seriousness of such decisions and the risks associated with participation in an armed conflict. The government urged citizens to refrain from taking such actions.
The Ministry also cautioned Indians seeking employment overseas to conduct proper due diligence before accepting job offers, particularly those offered through agents who are not registered with the Ministry of External Affairs.
Over the past two and a half years, India has issued several advisories warning citizens against unverified individuals and recruitment networks offering lucrative employment opportunities in Russia. According to the Ministry, some Indians who responded to such offers were subsequently made to wear Russian military uniforms and sent into active fighting.
In some cases, recruiters have reportedly retained the documents of recruited individuals, making it difficult for them to leave Russia after entering military service.
The issue has also been raised by the Indian government with Russian authorities at various levels. However, the latest advisory indicates that reports of recruitment have continued, including through social media advertisements.
The scale of the issue was outlined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on August 31 while briefing the media in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.
According to the figures cited by Misri, India had information about 227 Indian nationals who had been recruited into the Russian army as of the end of August. Of these, 139 had been discharged from the Russian armed forces, while information was available regarding the deaths of 51 Indian nationals.
The figures underline the serious risks faced by Indians who enter military service in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The latest advisory therefore reiterates the government’s earlier warnings against accepting unverified employment offers or voluntarily seeking recruitment into the Russian armed forces. It also specifically cautions against attempts to change citizenship or obtain Russian nationality for the purpose of joining the Russian military.
The Ministry’s warning comes against the backdrop of continued efforts by Indian authorities to secure the release of Indian nationals who have entered the Russian military, while also urging citizens to avoid recruitment channels that could place them in active combat roles.
For Indians seeking employment abroad, the government has stressed the need to verify the credentials of recruiters and the actual nature of employment before accepting offers, particularly where unusually lucrative financial benefits are promised.
With 227 Indian nationals reported to have been recruited and 51 reported dead by the end of August, the fresh advisory reinforces New Delhi’s warning that participation in the Russian armed forces carries grave risks and should be avoided by Indian citizens.
