Stories
Indian man from Telangana feared dead on Russian frontline after being duped into military service
- •Mohammed Afzal Khan, an Indian national from Telangana, is reported killed near the Russia-Ukraine border after being misled into military service.
- •Families of four men from Telangana claimed they paid Rs 3 lakh each for civilian jobs in Russia but were instead forced into combat training and frontline deployment.
- •Another stranded Indian, Sirshu Ashok, sent a voice message stating Afzal died last week while confirming his own serious injuries from a missile attack.
- •Police have arrested an agent in connection with the illegal recruitment racket as families appeal to the Indian Embassy and government for help.
- •The Ministry of External Affairs reported that hundreds of Indians have been drawn into the Russian armed forces, prompting diplomatic intervention and warnings against fraudulent overseas job offers.
Key Questions Answered
Family members stated that the men traveled to Russia after paying about Rs 3 lakh each for promised civilian jobs in construction, gardening, security, and the oil industry. Instead of these roles, they were later taken to a forested area, given weapons, and forced into military service near the Ukraine frontline.
Intermediaries such as Madhava Rao, Odde Yellaiah, and Telu Krishna allegedly offered jobs and collected travel and visa expenses from the victims' families. Nizamabad police subsequently arrested 34-year-old Gourav Chaudhary after finding that his bank accounts were used by a Russian military recruitment agency, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Ministry of External Affairs has maintained contact with Russia regarding safety and early discharges, raising the issue during high-level diplomatic visits. Additionally, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that DNA samples from relatives of 21 Indians were collected and shared with Russian authorities to identify missing personnel and recover remains.
