Concerns Rise as Indian Citizens Join Russian Military Amid Ongoing Conflict

The Ministry of External Affairs has reported that 202 Indian citizens are believed to have joined the Russian military, with 26 fatalities and seven missing. Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining individuals. The ministry has issued repeated warnings against joining the Russian military, citing the risk of being misled by agents. The situation arises amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has escalated since Russia's invasion in February 2022. The Indian government is actively assisting discharged citizens with their return and addressing the complexities surrounding the identification of deceased individuals. This article delves into the current status and government actions regarding Indian nationals involved in the Russian military.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 19, 2025, 20:18 IST

Indian Citizens in Russian Military: Current Status

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs informed Parliament that out of the 202 Indian nationals suspected of enlisting in the Russian military, 26 have lost their lives and seven are currently unaccounted for.

According to Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh, 119 individuals have been released from military service. He also mentioned that efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining 50 individuals.

The Ministry of External Affairs has consistently issued warnings to Indian citizens against joining the Russian military, asserting that many are misled by dishonest agents and are often recruited for non-combat roles, such as cooks and aides, amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, it has resulted in the most severe conflict in Europe since World War II.

As per the Russian defense ministry, recruitment of Indians was halted in April 2024, as stated by the Russian embassy in New Delhi. However, the processing of military contracts has delayed the return of several Indian nationals.

The Ministry and Indian diplomatic missions in Russia are actively assisting citizens who have been discharged from the Russian Army by helping them with travel documentation and providing air tickets for their return to India, Singh noted.

Additionally, Singh mentioned that the Indian mission in Russia has been involved in the evacuation of deceased individuals' remains. The identification process for these remains includes matching DNA samples with those of the next of kin once they are moved to a secure location.

Discussions regarding the discharge of Indian citizens are held at various bilateral levels, including meetings between leaders, ministers, and officials.