New Delhi:

The Russian Embassy in India on Saturday denied that Russia had engaged in any “public or obscure campaigns” in “fraudulent schemes” to recruit Indian citizens for military service in the country.

The Russian Embassy in Delhi in a statement said, “Since April this year, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has stopped the admission of citizens of a number of foreign countries, including India, to military service in the Russian Armed Forces.”

“The Embassy outlines that the Russian Government has at no point of time been engaged in any public or obscure campaigns, more so in fraudulent schemes to recruit Indian nationals for military service in Russia,” the statement read.

The Russian Embassy in India also condoled the deaths of Indian nationals while serving in the Russian Army in the war against Ukraine.

It said, “The Embassy expresses deep condolences to the Government of India and the families of the deceased.”

“The agencies concerned in both countries work in close coordination for early identification and discharge of Indian nationals who voluntarily contracted for military service in Russia. All contractual obligations and due compensation payments will be fulfilled in full measure,” the Russian embassy statement read.

The Russian mission said it has received multiple requests from the media to comment on the issue.

“The Russian Embassy in New Delhi has been in receipt of numerous requests from the media to comment on the issue on Indian citizens in service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as there have been unfortunate instances of casualties among them in the course of the Special military operation in Ukraine,” the Russian Embassy said.

Notably, several Indians were allegedly duped into fighting in Russia’s war with Ukraine on the pretext of lucrative jobs.

In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, took a strong stance on the issue of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian army and the Russian government has assured an “early discharge” of these Indians from the army service.

Just recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, responding to questions on Indian nationals in the Russian Army informed Parliament that 91 Indian nationals were recruited of whom 14 have been discharged and 69 are awaiting release.

Speaking in Parliament, Jaishankar said that eight indian nationals serving in the Russian forces had unfortunately, passed away.

In April, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had busted a major human trafficking network running across the country targeting Indian nationals on the promise of offering lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone.

The CBI stated that these traffickers have been operating as an organised network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube, etc., and also through their local contacts and agents for highly paid jobs in Russia.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Russian soldiers operate an anti-aircraft gun at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. File photo for representatonal purpose only.
| Photo Credit: AP

A 22-year-old Haryana man “sent to the frontline by the Russian Army to fight against Ukrainian forces” has died, his family claimed on Monday, July 29, 2024.

Also read: Kin of Indians stuck in Russia’s warzone take their fight to New Delhi

The Indian embassy in Moscow confirmed the death of Ravi Moun, who hailed from Matour village in Haryana’s Kaithal district, his brother Ajay Moun said.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Moscow recently took up the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request, made at a private dinner and ordered to discharge those wishing to return to India.

Ravi Moun went to Russia on January 13 after being “hired” for a transportation job but was inducted into the military, his brother claimed.

Ajay Moun wrote to the embassy on July 21 for information on his brother’s whereabouts.

“The embassy told us that he has died,” he said.

The family said the embassy also asked them to send a DNA test report for identification of the body.

“Ravi went to Russia on January 13. An agent sent him to Russia for a transportation job. However, he was inducted into the Russian Army,” Mr. Ajay Moun said.

The family’s claim comes days after Russia agreed to India’s demand to ensure early release and return of Indian nationals inducted into the country’s military.

“We remained in touch with him till March 12 and he was quite upset,” he said.

According to the Indian embassy’s reply to Ajay Moun’s letter, “The embassy had requested the concerned Russian authorities for confirmation of his death and transportation of his mortal remains requested by you.” “The Russian side has confirmed his death. However, to identify the body, they need a DNA test from his close relatives,” it added.

Mr. Ajay Moun also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring his brother’s mortal remains back to India.

“We do not have enough money to bring back his body,” he told reporters.

The family sold off a one-acre land and spent ₹11.50 lakh to send him to Russia, he said.

Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs said the issue of Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army remained a matter of “utmost concern” and demanded action from Moscow.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict in eastern Europe has been raging since February 2022.