Ravi Moun, a 21-year-old from Haryana, India, was eager to travel to Russia for a job in transportation. His brother, Ajay, sold their land to fund the trip. However, upon arrival, Moun was instead recruited into the Russian military to fight in the Ukraine war. He last contacted his family on March 12, revealing he was involved in burying casualties. In July, after his family contacted the Indian Embassy, they learned he had been killed in action.
Moun’s death came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of Indian mercenaries with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July. Following the meeting, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that at least 50 Indian nationals had requested their release from the Russian army. The Russian side reportedly agreed to facilitate their discharge.
The issue of Indian men fighting in Russia first came to light in early March when the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) uncovered a human trafficking network that lured individuals to Russia with promises of jobs, university admissions, and visa extensions. Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated, and they were forced into combat roles against their will.
Among those caught in this trap was Azad Yousuf Kumar, a 31-year-old engineering graduate who left for Dubai in December after a YouTuber offered him a job. He later found himself in Russia, forced to construct bunkers and fight for the Russian army. His brother, Sajad, expressed concern and pleaded for the Indian government’s intervention.
Videos on social media emerged showing other Indian men in Russian uniforms, claiming they were forced to fight under threat of imprisonment for illegal entry.
The MEA confirmed the deaths of two Indian nationals in June. India’s Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, raised the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in July, prompting the Russian Embassy in India to assure that Russia was working towards a solution.
Experts at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) attribute this “foreign fighters phenomenon” to a combination of factors, including Russia’s demand for foreign labor, economic incentives, and the militarization of South Asian societies. Rajoli Siddharth Jayaprakash, an ORF expert, highlights the lure of higher wages and potential citizenship for migrants in Russia, which faces a labor shortage.
Outward migration from South Asia has surged in recent years, driven by economic challenges in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India. This influx of labor fills the gap created by Russia’s worker shortage.
While Modi’s visit to Russia resulted in a decline in the number of Indians serving in the Russian army, the issue remains complex due to binding contracts and potential Russian citizenship.
Despite efforts to secure the release of Indian nationals, India has refrained from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and abstained from related UN resolutions. Modi has favored a softer approach to the conflict, emphasizing the importance of peace. This stance aligns with India’s longstanding close relationship with Russia, reflected in India’s recent increased purchases of Russian oil.
In Moun’s village, his family continues to grieve. His cousin, Sonu Mator, shared that the family had to rely on the Indian government for help in repatriating Moun’s body due to financial constraints. He expressed regret that Moun would not have gone to Russia had he known he would be forced to fight.
