New Delhi, July 31: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India reported on Friday that 139 Indian citizens have been successfully freed from the Russian military, with ongoing efforts to secure the release of approximately 24 more individuals.
During a bi-weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We are in constant contact with Russian authorities to facilitate the release of the remaining Indian citizens. So far, our efforts have led to the release of 139 individuals, and we are actively working on the release of the approximately 24 others still reported to be with the Russian military.”
He also cautioned the public regarding risky job offers. The spokesperson emphasized, “We want to once again warn people to be cautious of job proposals that involve risks and are presented by dishonest individuals or questionable agencies.”
In September 2025, the MEA had issued a stern advisory urging Indian citizens to avoid joining the Russian military. This warning followed reports indicating that many Indians traveling to Moscow were being sent to combat roles in the Ukraine war.
The advisory came after a major newspaper reported that two Indian youths in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine claimed they were lured to Russia with promises of construction jobs, only to be sent to the front lines of the conflict.
Speaking via phone from the city of Seledov, which was occupied by Russia in November 2024, they alleged that at least 13 other Indians were similarly trapped under precarious circumstances.
According to reports, both youths had traveled to Russia on student or visitor visas over the past six months. They claimed that an agent had promised them jobs in the construction sector but misled them into the battlefield instead.
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