Indian Man Misled into Russian Army Amid Job Search
Desperate Plea for Help
File image of President of Russia Vladimir Putin(Photo: IANS)
Visakhapatnam, Nov 3: A resident of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, has reportedly been tricked into enlisting in the Russian Army while seeking employment in Russia, leading his mother to call on both the Central and state governments for assistance in securing his return.
J Appalakonda, the mother of J Vamsi, shared that her son traveled to Russia with hopes of finding work but was left jobless upon arrival. He later connected with a Nepali individual who lured him with promises of better-paying jobs in Ukraine.
"My son intended to work in fruit packing but was misled into joining the Russian Army and subsequently taken to Ukraine. I urge the Central and Andhra Pradesh governments to step in and ensure his safe return," Appalakonda stated during a press conference.
She appealed to Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and IT Minister Nara Lokesh for assistance in bringing her son home.
"I have no one left. I have a son and a daughter, and my husband has passed away. All I want is my son back; I seek nothing else," she expressed, pleading for government intervention.
In a video message, a person claiming to be Vamsi, along with four other Indians, stated that they had traveled to Russia for jobs but were deceived into military service and were now being sent to the front lines near the Russia-Ukraine border.
He mentioned that they were approached by a Nepali national in Russia who promised them food-packing jobs in the Army, which led to their recruitment.
The group expressed their fears for their safety as they were being deployed close to the conflict zone.
Vamsi also revealed that they were unaware of being granted Russian citizenship until they inquired about their status, stating, "Whenever we ask about our Indian citizenship, we are told that we are no longer Indian citizens and have become Russians. We only want our Indian citizenship and do not wish to have Russian citizenship. Had we known, we would never have agreed to this," he said.
He added that they were made to sign documents in Russian without comprehending their meaning.
"These could be our final words. We are uncertain about what will happen next, as they are sending us directly to the front lines. We implore the Indian government to act swiftly, save our lives, and bring us back," he pleaded.
In response to the situation, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh expressed his concern for the Indians stranded abroad and called for immediate action to ensure their safe return.
"It is heartbreaking to witness the suffering of our citizens overseas. I have instructed my office to urgently coordinate with the relevant authorities to assist them and guarantee their safe and prompt return home," Lokesh stated in a post on X.