‘Tortured, Left In Jungle & Jailed’: Haryana Youth Lured By Fraudulent Job Recounts Russian Ordeal

New Delhi: Numerous Indian youths have become victims of deceptive job schemes recruiting for the Russian army during the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Mukesh, a young man from Haryana who fell victim to one such fraudulent job, shared his harrowing ordeal after managing to return to India from Russia recently.

The agents Mukesh came in contact with for overseas employment assured him of getting a work permit in Germany. However, he was subsequently directed to Bangkok, and then to Russia.

On arrival in Russia, he was apprehended by Russian military due to lack of valid immigration documents. Mukesh was presented with a choice — either enlist in the army or confront imprisonment.

Mukesh said that there are approximately 250-300 Indians serving in the Russian Army, all lured by false job assurances, ANI reported.

Recalling the ‘donkey’ route to Russia, Mukesh described how he departed from India in September 2023 with a ticket to Bangkok.

“When I reached Bangkok, they started torturing me… Took money from my family. Then they gave me a ticket to Russia. When I reached Russia, I was beaten up by the donkers (agent/associates of the agent). I was taken to Belarus by the donkers. They used to take me to the jungle to beat me up and burn me with cigarettes. They made video calls to my family members and threatened them to extract more money,” Mukesh revealed.

“I was in the jungle for 16 days without eating anything. I was unconscious. Some friends helped me but at that time the Army caught us. They asked us to serve in the Army or face jail for 10 years. When we said we won’t join the Army, we were sent to jail. Then we got bail and were deported,” Mukesh said.

India has raised concerns with Russia, urging the prompt release of Indians stranded there. At least two Indians have lost their lives on the battlefield while serving the Russian Army against Ukraine.

The Ministry of External Affairs reported that 20 Indian nationals enlisted with Russian military have approached the Indian mission in Moscow, seeking assistance for discharge.

More ‘trapped’ Indians hope to return home now that New Delhi is making the efforts to address the matter with Moscow.