Last week, the Indian government announced that several Indian nationals, who had been misled into fighting for Russian forces in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, were released. Of the 91 Indians caught in this situation, many have already returned home, while efforts to bring the remaining individuals back are ongoing. Some of the men involved shared their experiences with the BBC’s Neyaz Farooquee, detailing their ordeals in a conflict they never anticipated being part of.
“I am in panic. I am not sure if I will return safely or in a box. Please save me,” wrote Urgen Tamang, a former Indian soldier, in a message to the BBC. He sent this plea from outside a southern Ukrainian city, just days before his eventual discharge from the frontlines of Russia’s war against Ukraine. This war, which has now entered its third year, forced Tamang, along with 90 other Indians, into dangerous combat zones. These men were mostly lured by promises of employment and financial security, but instead found themselves conscripted into a foreign conflict.
Most of the individuals caught in this situation were from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, duped by recruiters with offers of lucrative jobs, often under the pretense of roles as “helpers” within the Russian military. However, upon arrival, they were thrust into the war zone. Lacking military training, they were forced to navigate extremely dangerous conditions in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. The recruits had to survive through landmines, sniper attacks, missiles, and drones, with many unaware of the full scope of the danger they had been sent into.
The tragedy of this situation is underscored by the loss of life; so far, nine Indian nationals have died in the conflict. Indian authorities have responded by arresting 19 individuals linked to the human trafficking operations responsible for recruiting these men. In July, following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia pledged to release all Indians involved in the war. This promise marked a crucial step in addressing the plight of these men. The two nations have historically maintained a strong bilateral relationship, and this issue became a priority for India during the diplomatic discussions.
Forty-five of the trapped individuals have since been discharged, with some already back home and others, like Tamang, en route. “I can’t believe I am out of there,” said Sunil Karwa, an electrician from Rajasthan. Karwa had joined the Russian army in February and was deployed near Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine that has been a focal point of intense fighting. Speaking from the Moscow airport while waiting to board his flight home, Karwa reflected on the harrowing experiences he endured. One of the most difficult moments was witnessing a fellow recruit from his home village being injured on the battlefield. “They sent him back to the frontline just 15 days after he was injured, and he collapsed there. He is paralyzed now,” Karwa recalled.
The recruits were primarily blue-collar workers, most between the ages of 19 and 35. They were recruited by agents operating out of India, Dubai, and Russia, and were pressured into signing contracts written in Russian, a language they could not read. They signed in the hope of better opportunities, but found themselves trapped. “The process was so quick—just a few signatures and photos and we were in [the army],” Karwa added.
Another individual, Raja Pathan, was deceived by an education consultant who tricked him into enrolling in a non-existent college. When he arrived in Russia and saw recruitment banners for the army, he decided to join, seeing no other way out after spending considerable time and money. However, the death of two friends on the battlefield became the turning point that led Pathan to leave. He was able to secure his release in August with the help of a sympathetic Russian commander and now lives in Moscow, where he assists other Indians seeking to escape.
For others, the trauma of their experience still lingers. Mohammad Sufyan, who hails from Telangana, returned to India on 12 September along with five other men. Though safe at home, Sufyan is haunted by what he witnessed on the frontlines. “In the beginning, I couldn’t speak to my family for 25 days,” he recalled. His most distressing memory occurred in February when his friend, Hemil Mangukiya from Gujarat, was killed before his eyes. “He was just 15 metres away from me, digging a trench near Krynky [in Kherson], when a missile struck,” Sufyan said. “I carried his body to the truck with my own hands.”
After witnessing his friend’s death, Sufyan and other stranded Indians recorded a video pleading for help. The video reached Indian MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who raised the issue with India’s foreign ministry. Families of the trapped men also reached out to the Indian government for assistance, leading to their eventual return.
Azad Yusuf Kumar, from Indian-administered Kashmir, was part of Sufyan’s group in the army. “It is a miracle I got back home,” he said, describing the chaos of the battlefield. “One minute you are digging a trench, and the next, artillery shells fall and destroy everything. It was pure luck whether the shell landed on you or someone else.” Kumar himself narrowly avoided death after accidentally shooting his own foot during training. “I had never touched a gun before, and with the cold and confusion, I shot my foot,” he explained. Despite the injury, his commander accused him of intentionally harming himself to avoid combat. “But I’m lucky I didn’t go to fight. Four men from my camp died in an attack, and I could’ve been one of them,” he added.
Though the release of many has brought some relief, others still trapped in Russia face uncertainty. For men like Urgen Tamang, the wait for freedom has been fraught with anxiety. Tamang, who joined the Russian army in January, revealed that 13 of the 15 non-Russian soldiers in his unit had died. Despite signing a discharge letter in August, he was sent to the frontlines twice afterward, increasing his fears and distrust in the process.
On 15 September, Tamang was finally on his way to Moscow, but remained wary of his situation. “I am out, but I will keep sending you my location,” he texted, unsure if his journey home was truly secure. His last message indicated he had left Ukraine, hopeful that he would soon make it back to India.