India confirms presence of its citizens in Russian armed forces

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News February 25, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

India’s foreign ministry confirmed that several Indian citizens have signed up to work in the Russian army. The ministry said that the Indian citizens have been working in “support jobs” with the Russian military and did not confirm if any of those who signed up had taken combat roles.

The news about the presence of Indian citizens in the Russian military surfaced after a video of three Indians started to make waves on social media and news.

The video showed three Indians claiming that they were deceived into serving as “army security aides” in Russia, only to find themselves in the middle of the battlefield engaging in combat alongside Russian forces on the Ukrainian border. One individual recounted receiving basic weapons operations training before being thrown into battle near Donetsk.

In response to the questions by the media and public, the Indian foreign ministry released a statement saying that it was “aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian army.”

“The Indian Embassy has regularly taken up this matter with the relevant Russian authorities for their early discharge,” the statement said. “We urge all Indian nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict.”

Indian soldiers reportedly hired as helpers by Russian army — *^{Indian soldiers were reportedly hired as helpers and forced to fight in Russia’s war. (Image Credit: Twitter/@AnonOpsSE)}*

An Indian newspaper reported last week that at least 18 Indians were stranded in frontline towns in Russia, while some were being forced to fight alongside Russian forces. The report claimed that the Indian citizens were duped by recruiters based in Dubai, who promised them high wages and Russian citizenships. The newspaper said that some 100 Indian citizens had been recruited by Russian forces.

Last month, Nepal also stopped issuing permits for its citizens to go and work in Russia after reports started to circulate that at least 10 Nepali citizens had died while serving in the Russian army.

Two years of the Russia-Ukraine war

February 24, 2024, marked the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Several leaders from Ukraine’s ally states traveled to Kyiv and sent messages to the Ukrainian people as they pledged their support for Ukraine against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy embraced the Western leaders and delivered a televised speech against a backdrop of wrecked aircraft.

The Ukrainian presidential office released a video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau laying flowers at the Wall of Memory at St. Michael’s Square in Kyiv, to mark the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The U.S. State Department also released a statement saying that “The United States will continue to stand resolutely with the Ukrainian people in their defense of their homeland.” The statement also announced the imposition of “export control restrictions on more than 500 individuals and entities”.

*^{Joint Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. (Image Credit: Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)}*

It said that “the United States will use all available tools to hinder Russia’s ability to access the global financial system, disrupt Russia’s military-industrial-procurement,” and “ensure Putin’s invasion remains a strategic failure for Russia.”