Our citizens worked for Russian army, India confirms

India’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that some of the country’s nationals have contracted with the Russian military for ‘support jobs’.

The Ministry of External Affairs says it is working with Moscow to ensure the separation of Indian nationals from their jobs.

According to the French news agency AFP, the Indian newspaper The Hindu reported on Wednesday that about 18 Indian citizens are trapped in various border towns on the front line of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

According to the newspaper report, at least three Indian nationals were forced to fight alongside the Russian army.

The Ministry of External Affairs did not confirm whether Indian nationals played a combat role in the conflict.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs statement: ‘It is aware that some Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian military.’

“The (Indian) embassy is regularly taking up the matter with the concerned Russian authorities to ensure that they (Indian nationals) can be separated from their jobs as soon as possible,” the foreign ministry statement said.

“We urge all Indian citizens to exercise caution and stay away from this conflict.”

A report in The Hindu alleged that recruiters in Dubai cheated Indian nationals by promising them high wages and Russian passports.

After reaching Moscow, the Indian nationals were reportedly trained by the Russian army in handling weapons and ammunition and were sent to the front in January.

Although some Indian nationals reportedly volunteered for Ukrainian forces in the conflict, this is the first case of Indian nationals allegedly working with the Russian military, the paper said.

One of them told the newspaper that his ‘repeated requests’ to return had been ‘ignored’ by the Indian embassy in Moscow.

Two years after the start of the Russian offensive, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that there was a ‘very difficult’ situation on the front line.

Ukraine has been weakened by a freeze on US aid, its failed retaliation against a large and powerful military, and a growing shortage of ammunition.

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