India Confirms Over 200 Citizens Enlisted in Russian Army
The Ministry of External Affairs of India has reported that over 200 Indian citizens were recruited into the Russian armed forces, and the government is making efforts to secure their release and repatriation.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
Currently, 202 Indian citizens are known to have been part of the Russian military. In a result of government coordination, 119 of them have been released early, 26 have died, and seven are reported missing. Efforts are ongoing to secure the early release of an additional 50 citizens.
The Ministry is now assisting with the repatriation of the remains of deceased individuals and conducting cremations, as well as providing DNA samples from relatives to identify those who have died or are missing. So far, the remains of ten Indians have been returned, and DNA samples from relatives of 18 individuals have been sent to the Russian side for identification.
Lately, Russia and India are deepening their military cooperation through both joint exercises and defense industry collaboration. The "Indra 2025" drills in Rajasthan, running until October 15, focused on counter-terrorism operations, enhancing operational compatibility, and exchanging best practices between the two countries’ armed forces.
At the same time, top Indian defense firms have held secret talks in Moscow on joint production and development of Russian-origin weaponry, including MiG-29 fighter jet components, air defense systems, drones, and artificial intelligence technologies for military use. The discussions also explored establishing manufacturing facilities in India for potential exports back to Russia.
These developments signal a growing strategic and military partnership, reinforcing long-standing defense ties and expanding collaboration beyond exercises to technological and industrial cooperation.
Russia’s global recruitment network is rapidly expanding, with nearly 200 foreign nationals from 37 countries currently held as POWs in Ukraine. Most recruits come from South and Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and many report being deceived with job offers, residency promises, or financial incentives before being deployed to frontline combat.
Brig. Gen. Dmytro Usov reported that Ukraine has tracked over 18,000 foreigners who have fought or are fighting for Russia, excluding North Korean personnel, highlighting the scale of Moscow’s reliance on foreign fighters amid catastrophic losses. Governments including India, Kenya, and South Africa have protested forced recruitment, citing deception and illegal conscription practices targeting their citizens.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that Russia is recruiting citizens from at least 36 African countries to fight in Ukraine, often using deception or coercion. He warned that many of these recruits are sent directly to deadly frontline operations, referred to as “meat assaults,” where they face a high likelihood of death.
Read more on The Gaze: The Great Realignment: How the War in Ukraine Reshaped the Global South