After more than a year-long wait, the mortal remains of 28-year-old Mandeep Kumar, a Punjab native who lost his life in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, have finally reached his hometown of Goraya in Jalandhar.

According to his elder brother, Jagdeep Kumar, Mandeep had been deceived by unscrupulous travel agents and forcibly recruited into the Russian army, ultimately dying in a drone attack while fighting against Ukraine.

A Brother’s Grueling Search

Jagdeep, who had recently returned from Russia after an arduous search for his brother, said that Mandeep’s body arrived at Delhi airport on Saturday and was received by the family. “I only came to know about my brother’s death two months ago after DNA samples I had submitted matched with one of the bodies,” he told PTI.

In his quest to find Mandeep, Jagdeep traveled to Russia twice—in February and October 2025—spending almost three months there in total. He returned from his second trip on December 8.

How Mandeep Was Lured

According to Jagdeep, Mandeep and four others had traveled to Armenia in September 2023, believing they were heading to Italy for work. However, the travel agents diverted them to Russia, where they were coerced into joining the Russian army.

Jagdeep recounted his last conversation with Mandeep on March 3, 2024. “The call lasted only 17–20 seconds. He asked me to rescue him from Russia,” he said.

Mandeep, who had a congenital defect in his leg, was nevertheless forced into military service and sent directly into the war zone—a decision that ultimately cost him his life.

Appeal for Accountability

Jagdeep has demanded strict action against the travel agents who duped his brother and forced him into military service. He has also urged the Indian government to take steps to prevent any future recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian armed forces.

He further claimed that, following his return from Russia last month, at least 10 Indians had died after being recruited into the Russian military. Among them, three were from Punjab, while seven hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Jammu.

Government Response and Warnings

India has repeatedly raised concerns with Russia over the recruitment of Indian nationals as military support staff. In September 2025, New Delhi demanded an end to the practice and called for the release of all Indians currently serving in the Russian armed forces.

The government has also issued strong advisories cautioning Indian citizens against joining the Russian military, highlighting the inherent risks and dangers involved in such enlistments.

A Family’s Tragic Loss

For the Kumar family, the return of Mandeep’s remains brings a somber closure to a long and painful ordeal. Yet, the case underscores the ongoing risks faced by Indian nationals who are misled by fraudulent recruitment networks abroad and forced into conflict zones.

Jagdeep’s appeal to authorities reflects a wider concern about safeguarding citizens from deceptive practices that could place them in life-threatening situations far from home.