The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has once again raised alarm about the plight of Indian nationals trapped in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. On Thursday, September 11, 2025, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that at least 15 Indians are currently caught in the battlefield, reportedly being coerced into serving with Russian forces.

Addressing media queries in New Delhi, Jaiswal said the Indian government has already taken up the issue both with Russian authorities in Moscow and with the Russian Embassy in Delhi, demanding that the practice of recruiting Indian citizens be ended and the stranded nationals released at the earliest.

He emphasised that the Indian government remains in close communication with the families of those affected, while reiterating a strong advisory urging Indian citizens to stay away from any such recruitment offers linked to the Russian military. According to him, the risks in such a course of action are extreme and fraught with danger, as pointed out repeatedly by the MEA over the past year.

The issue of Indians being recruited into the Russian armed forces has been a recurring challenge for the Indian government since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine. Earlier this year, the MEA disclosed in Parliament that 127 Indian nationals were at some point serving in the Russian army. Of this number, 98 individuals had been successfully disengaged from service following sustained diplomatic pressure exerted by New Delhi on Moscow, including intervention at the highest levels.

However, the situation remained complex as 13 Indians were still on the rolls of the Russian forces, with Russian authorities declaring 12 of them “missing.” This revelation highlighted the grave uncertainties faced by Indians who had been drawn, often under false pretences, into frontline conflict situations. Families of those remaining unaccounted for have been awaiting clarity, while India continues to push Moscow for updates on their fate.

The problem first came to noticeable public light in February 2024, when reports by The Hindu established that a number of Indians, who had travelled to Russia on tourist visas in search of economic opportunities, were instead lured by fraudulent recruitment agents with the promise of stable jobs such as security helpers. On arrival, many of them were coerced into joining Russian military operations, particularly deployments along the Russia-Ukraine border.

For months, relatives and advocacy groups appealed to Indian authorities to intervene, leading to heightened diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Moscow. In August 2024, the Russian Embassy in India formally acknowledged the issue with a statement asserting that it was no longer inducting Indians into its military ranks.

The embassy further claimed it was coordinating closely with India to arrange for the discharging of any Indian nationals who had been recruited into service in Ukraine. Despite these assurances, fresh cases in 2025 suggest that the illegal networks exploiting Indian nationals have not been fully eliminated.

The MEA’s latest statement underscores its continuing concerns that Indian citizens remain vulnerable to exploitation in vulnerable labour corridors, particularly when traveling abroad in search of employment opportunities. Officials have warned consistently since the early phases of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 against Indians volunteering or allowing themselves to be recruited for the conflict, pointing out the severe risks.

However, the ongoing reports demonstrate that recruitment rackets remain active, often targeting unemployed youth with deceptive promises of lucrative jobs in Russia. For those trapped on the battlefield, the possibility of becoming casualties, being declared missing, or facing prolonged detention in overseas military structures remains high.

This crisis has a larger diplomatic dimension as well. The involvement of Indian citizens—albeit coerced—in an international war zone complicates New Delhi’s delicate balancing act in its relations with both Moscow and Kyiv.

While India has refrained from directly criticising Russia’s military operations since the conflict began in February 2022, it has consistently stressed the importance of protecting Indian nationals abroad. The MEA’s repeated intervention reflects both humanitarian concerns for its citizens and a recognition of the reputational risks India faces if further Indians, whether recruited or missing, become casualties in the war. With 15 new cases emerging in September 2025, after earlier efforts had seemed to contain the problem, the Indian government is under fresh domestic and international pressure to ensure speedy repatriations.

The situation highlights the urgent need for tighter control of overseas recruitment channels used by Indian job seekers, stronger regulation of travel advisories, and closer vigilance over potential human trafficking or illegal labour contracts. It also demonstrates the dangerous global repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war, which continues into its fourth year with no clear resolution.

While Moscow has signalled cooperation in the past, the recurrence of the issue raises questions about oversight on the ground and the efficacy of previous assurances. For India, the stakes remain high not only in saving its citizens but also in pre-empting future cases through more aggressive public awareness campaigns and bilateral frameworks with Russia to monitor the movement of Indian workers.