New Delhi: The Indian government has formally requested Moscow to facilitate the return of 27 Indian nationals currently serving in the Russian armed forces, officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday. The issue surfaced after the families of the individuals approached the central government for assistance.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, several Indians traveled to Russia for employment, with reports indicating that some were allegedly misled or coerced into joining the Russian military. The MEA confirmed that information received from families identifies 27 such individuals presently serving in the forces.
Breaking :
MEA Spox says 27 Indian nationals are presently serving in the Russian army.
Adds,'We once again strongly urge all Indian nationals to stay away from the offers being made to serve in the Russian army as they are fraught with danger and risk to life' pic.twitter.com/cPgl5bxhPI
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) September 26, 2025
The Indian Embassy in Russia, in coordination with the Russian Embassy in Delhi, is actively engaging with Moscow authorities to secure their prompt release. MEA spokesperson Randeep Jaishwal noted that the matter has been raised multiple times with Russian officials, urging expedited repatriation.
The government has previously issued warnings to Indian citizens about offers to join the Russian military, highlighting the risks of potential scams by employment agents. Despite these advisories, some individuals continue to fall prey to such schemes. The MEA emphasized that ensuring the safe return of all Indian nationals in Russia remains a top priority and reaffirmed that the embassy is prepared to assist the Indian diaspora in Russia facing any related issues.