Mint Explainer: How Indian volunteers ended up fighting for Russia

livemint.com:

A few Indians caught in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have sent desperate pleas back home asking to be rescued, saying the Russian military had hired them as helpers but coerced into fighting in the war. Out of roughly 100 Indians hired by the Russian military, at least one has been killed in battle. The Indian government is scrambling to secure the discharge of these individuals.

But it’s also true that Indians have willingly fought for other countries as mercenaries, and in a few instances for global terror groups as well. Mint takes a look at how all this came to pass. According to a report from The Hindu, around 100 men from across the country, including from Gujarat, UP and Karnataka, were hired by the Russian military as helpers last year.

The men were promised lucrative jobs and benefits and underwent background checks. However, it appears that at least three of the men recruited have been forced into fighting for Russia. More men are now coming forward with similar claims.

These men have had their passports seized and one recruit from Gujarat has been killed in the fighting. According to some of these men, India’s embassy in Moscow has been unhelpful in extracting them from their situation. The ministry of external affairs has stated that it was “aware" of Indians assisting the Russian military.

“We remain committed, as a matter of top priority, to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army," the foreign ministry said in a statement. It later stated that several Indians have been discharged as a result of India’s efforts. It also denied claims that the Indian mission in Moscow had been unhelpful.