Congress, MEA raise concerns over Indians forcibly recruited into Russian Army
Chandigarh
A 25-year-old man from Moga district in Punjab, Buta Singh, who went to Russia last year on a student visa, has reportedly been “recruited” into the Russian Army and forced into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, his family says. Singh, from Chak Kanian Kalan village, went to Russia in October 2024 through a travel agent to pursue a language course, with the agent promising part-time jobs to support him. To fund his trip, the family sold a piece of land.
Singh’s sister, Karamjit Kaur, said the family only learned about his situation after videos went viral on social media showing him and other Indian men saying they were trapped and handed guns to fight. The last contact from Singh was a WhatsApp voice message on September 11. The family has appealed to the Indian government for help, citing serious danger to his life.
Congress leaders, including Pargat Singh, Kumari Selja, and Randeep Surjewala, have expressed concern over the “forcible recruitment” of Indian nationals from north India into the Russian Army. Reports indicate over 100 men were recruited this way, with some going missing. In similar cases, two men from Haryana were misled with promises of security jobs and high pay but ended up in military training and deployment on the Ukraine front.
The Ministry of External Affairs has urged Indian citizens not to accept offers to join the Russian Army, highlighting the risks involved, and has taken up the matter with Russian authorities to ensure the safety of Indian nationals.
