All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday urged the Indian government to take urgent steps to secure the safe return of four Indian nationals currently trapped in Russia and allegedly forced to participate in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The appeal comes amid growing concern from the families of the men, one of whom, Mohammed Ahmed, has reportedly been injured while on the frontlines and has directly appealed for help via video messages to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Speaking to ANI, Owaisi detailed the situation, highlighting that the four men—Mohammed Ahmed from Hyderabad, and Anup Kumar, Manoj Kumar, and Sumit Kumar, hailing from Haryana and Rajasthan—were reportedly deceived into traveling to Russia under the false promise of legitimate employment. Once there, they were allegedly made to sign contracts compelling them to work for the Russian armed forces, a claim corroborated by family members.

“There is this youth from Hyderabad who went to Russia and was made to be involved in the Ukraine war and is stranded there,” Owaisi said. “The Foreign Secretary’s office was contacted, and the family got the reply that the person is stuck there and that they are trying to get him back. Today, the family came again, and they got to know that along with Mohammad Ahmed, three other boys—Anup Kumar, Manoj Kumar, and Sumit Kumar—are also there. Two of them are from Haryana, one is from Rajasthan.”

According to Owaisi, the four men were lured under the promise of employment and, in some cases, permanent residency (PR) in Russia. “The four men are stuck in a region there. They had been made to sign a contract and do work there. Whenever they get a signal, they send videos and ask for help. I appeal to our Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and the Indian Embassy in Russia to bring them back on humanitarian grounds. They have been trapped there by being lied to, the family is very worried,” he said.

Mohammed Ahmed’s wife, Arshiya Begum, detailed how her husband was promised a construction job and assistance with permanent residency by an agent named “Adil” from what was presented as a trusted consultancy. Upon reaching Russia, however, Ahmed reportedly lost contact with the agent and found himself coerced into signing a contract to work for the Russian army—a development that left him confused and trapped.

“For completing the process of going there, he had been assisted by someone named Adil from a trusted consultancy. He had been promised a permanent residency, a job in construction, and labor work. He was sent to Russia, was told a good salary package, and was assured that permanent residency would follow,” Begum told ANI.

She explained that Ahmed attempted to seek alternative employment but was denied opportunities and ultimately instructed to dig bunkers for the Russian army on the frontlines. “He tried very hard to get another job, but no one responded. He had been made to sign a contract with the Russian Army, but he does not know Russian. He was told he would be doing construction work—digging bunkers—and he accepted, thinking it was part of a construction-related role. He thought he might get some cooking work or something similar,” she added.

Begum also noted that Ahmed sustained an injury during his first engagement and sent a video appeal to the Indian government, pleading for help and a safe return. The distressing situation has left the family deeply worried about his safety and well-being.

The Ministry of External Affairs has previously addressed the broader issue of Indian nationals serving in the Russian armed forces. According to an MEA update in July, there are currently 127 Indian nationals involved, of whom 98 have had their service discontinued following sustained engagement between Indian and Russian authorities. The MEA has also been actively urging Russian authorities to provide updates on the remaining individuals and ensure their safe return. For those whose services have been terminated, Indian missions in Russia have assisted in facilitating travel documents, air tickets, and the repatriation process.

In an official statement released in September, the MEA confirmed that it has been in regular communication with Russian authorities over the past year, requesting that the recruitment of Indian nationals for military purposes be halted and that those already conscripted be released.

Owaisi’s appeal on Sunday underscores the urgency of addressing this matter. He called on Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and the Indian Embassy in Russia to intervene promptly on humanitarian grounds. “These men were lured under false pretenses. Families are extremely worried, and their safety and well-being must be prioritized. The government must act swiftly to bring them back,” he said.

The case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by Indian nationals abroad who fall prey to fraudulent employment schemes. It also raises broader concerns about the recruitment of foreign nationals into conflicts where they have no prior experience or consent. While the MEA continues diplomatic engagement with Russia, advocates like Owaisi are pressing for faster intervention to ensure that individuals like Mohammed Ahmed and his companions can safely return home.

In conclusion, the plight of these four Indians stranded in Russia sheds light on both the human cost of deceptive recruitment practices and the critical role of diplomatic intervention in safeguarding citizens abroad. The situation remains fluid, with families anxiously awaiting updates, while political and civic leaders call for urgent government action to secure their return from a conflict zone far from home.

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