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Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Kushmoth village in Shaktifarm, left for Russia on August 7 after securing admission to St. Petersburg University on a student visa
A Russian Army 2S5 howitzer Giatsint-S fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine. (AP file photo)
A 30-year-old man from Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar, who travelled to Russia for higher education, has allegedly been forced into joining the Russian army and deployed to the frontlines of the Ukraine war, his family has alleged.
Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Kushmoth village in Shaktifarm, Sitarganj, left for Russia on August 7 after securing admission to St Petersburg University on a student visa. However, just weeks after arriving, he reportedly contacted his family, hinting that something was wrong, The Times of India reported.
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His brother, Deepu Maurya, said their last direct conversation was on August 30, when Rakesh revealed he had been forcibly drafted into the Russian military and would soon be sent to the battlefield. Soon after, his phone became unreachable.
Days later, the family received a photo of Rakesh in Russian military uniform, confirming their fears. He later managed to call again from an unknown number, speaking briefly in distress. During that call, he alleged that his passport and personal documents had been seized, his official email accounts deleted, and that he had undergone military training in the Donbas region before being sent to fight. That was the last time they heard from him.
“We do not even know if he is alive. We just want the govt to bring him back home safely,” said Deepu.
The family has written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on September 5 and approached the Indian Embassy in Moscow, as well as local authorities, seeking urgent help.
This incident is not isolated. At least 20 Indians, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have reported being lured to Russia with promises of education or jobs, only to be forced into military service. According to the MEA, 12 Indian nationals have been killed in the conflict and 16 remain missing.
On 11 September, the MEA stated that the recruitment of Indians by the Russian army has stopped. It also confirmed that the matter has been raised with Russian authorities in both Moscow and Delhi, urging the release of affected Indian citizens.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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September 23, 2025, 16:14 IST
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