Recruited to fight for Russia: India exposes network of human traffickers sending Indians to war

This was reported by DW.

The Central Bureau of Investigation of India said that during raids on 13 sites, the country's authorities detained members of an organised network that sent Indians to Russia to fight in the war against Ukraine. 

The raids uncovered "a large network of traffickers across the country who lured young people with the promise of high-paying jobs abroad". The suspects "lured Indian nationals through social media and local agents for high-paying jobs in Russia," the Central Bureau of Investigation of India said in a statement.

The Indian nationals who were lured underwent combat training and were sent to military bases "in the Russian-Ukrainian war zone against their wishes". 

Indian authorities are aware of 35 cases of Indians being sent to the Russian army. Earlier, in late February, the Indian Foreign Ministry asked Moscow for the "early release" of about 100 of its citizens from the Russian Armed Forces.

• On February 26, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed media reports that their citizens were seeking help for demobilisation from the Russian army.
• On March 7, the Indian Embassy in Russia reported the death of its citizen Mohammed Asfan. The circumstances were not specified, but his family told about his participation in the war against Ukraine.