India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a fresh advisory cautioning Indian nationals against enlisting—directly or through third-party recruiters—in Russia’s armed forces. The notice, released late on 30 September, follows the confirmed deaths of 51 Indians who had been lured with promises of high salaries and fast-tracked Russian citizenship to serve on the front lines in Ukraine. According to the MEA, at least 227 Indians have been recruited since 2024; 139 have returned, while some two dozen remain deployed. The advisory emphasises that many of the offers originate from unregistered agents and “non-public entities,” sometimes after the individuals have arrived in Russia on tourist or student visas. In several cases, recruits have reportedly surrendered their Indian passports in anticipation of receiving Russian documents, leaving them effectively stateless and unable to seek consular assistance. New Delhi called this “a dangerous path” and confirmed that the Central Bureau of Investigation is pursuing criminal cases against illegal recruiters in India. Practically, the warning means travel-risk managers and global mobility teams should screen any Russia-related employment offers received by Indian staff, especially in shipping, construction and private-security segments where such schemes have proliferated. Employers whose Indian workers are already in Russia are being urged to verify their immigration status and ensure they are not in breach of local or Indian laws. The MEA stated it is working with Moscow to secure the early discharge of remaining Indian nationals and to repatriate the bodies of the deceased. The episode underscores the wider compliance challenge created by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Indian companies with operations in Eastern Europe should review duty-of-care protocols, confirm evacuation insurance coverage and brief assignees on the legal ramifications of accepting foreign military employment. Travel insurers may also reassess premiums for Russia-bound policies, while background-check providers can expect heightened demand for verification of overseas job contracts involving high-risk jurisdictions.
Source: Hindustan Times
