India in touch with Russia for discharge of Indians: Official

NEW DELHI: On the eve of the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that falls on Saturday, India on Friday said it is aware that a few Indian nationals have been recruited in “support jobs with the Russian Army”, adding that it is in talks with Moscow for the “early discharge” of such individuals.

New Delhi also asked all Indian nationals to “stay away from this conflict”. This comes after reports that some Indian nationals were duped and fraudulently recruited by foreign private militia groups as non-combatant security helpers with the Russian Army but who were then forced to fight at the battlefront after basic weapons’ training.

These trapped Indian nationals have reportedly sought help in returning to India.

In a statement on Friday “in response to media queries regarding Indians caught in conflict in Russia”,  New Delhi said, “We are aware that a few Indians 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. We urge all Indian nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict.”

According to recent media reports, the duped Indian nationals had been promised high salaries as non-combatant security helpers for the Russian Army by unscrupulous recruitment agents during a visit to Dubai last year following which they had returned to India and then had been taken to Russia on visitor’s visas.