India Warns Citizens Against Joining Russian Military

The Ministry of External Affairs of India issued an advisory on September 30 warning citizens against joining the Russian armed forces. The ministry cautioned that individuals are being lured by unverified recruiters or are willingly seeking enlistment for monetary gain under the mistaken belief that the Indian government can later secure their release. Officials noted some individuals have even renounced their Indian citizenship to obtain Russian passports for service, describing this as a "dangerous path."

The advisory follows reports from Telangana, India, where families of four men—Bhookya Ravinder, Sirshu Ashok, Megavath Prakash, and Mohammed Afzal Khan—alleged their relatives were deceived. The men reportedly paid approximately ₹3 lakh each to agents for promised civilian jobs in the oil industry or general labor. Instead, families claim the men were taken to military camps, had their phones confiscated, and were deployed to frontlines in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, some allegedly using fake passports.

In response to grievances filed through the CM Pravasi Prajavani platform, the Government of Telangana is coordinating with the Indian embassy in Moscow to facilitate repatriation. The Indian government remains engaged with Russian authorities to ensure the safety of its nationals. As of July, 139 Indian nationals have been released, while efforts continue to secure the release of approximately two dozen others still in service.