Seven Men from Punjab Claim They Traveled to Russia for Tourism, Deceived into Participating in Ukraine Conflict

A group of young men from Hoshiarpur, Punjab, have appealed to the government for assistance, claiming they were deceived into military service in Russia and forced to participate in Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

In a video lasting 105 seconds that circulated on social media, seven men are seen wearing military-style winter jackets with hoods or skull caps. They are gathered inside a dimly lit and unkempt room with a closed and locked window at one end. Six of them are clustered in a corner while the seventh, identified as Gagandeep Singh, records a video message explaining their predicament and seeking help.

According to Singh, they departed for Russia on December 27 to celebrate the New Year there. Although the men possessed a 90-day visa for their trip to Russia, they subsequently journeyed to neighboring Belarus.

“An agent offered to take us to Belarus… unaware that we required a visa. Upon our arrival in Belarus without a visa, the agent demanded additional money and subsequently abandoned us. We were apprehended by the police and handed over to Russian authorities, who coerced us into signing documents,” he asserted.

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“They are now compelling us to participate in the war against Ukraine.”

Singh’s family has reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs, with his brother, Amrit Singh, informing NDTV that the men were “coerced” as they could not comprehend the documents they signed.

“They were compelled to join the army there because the documents they signed in Belarus were in Russian. It stipulated that they either face 10 years of imprisonment or join the Russian army.”

Reportedly, the men received 15 days of military training before being deployed to an active war zone.

Belarus, reliant on Russia for political and economic backing, is regarded as one of Moscow’s staunchest allies. The Kremlin utilized its territory as a staging area for its incursion into Ukraine. Subsequent joint military exercises have fueled concerns that Minsk may be gearing up for a more active role.

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The seven men featured in the video are among nearly two dozen individuals reportedly stranded in Russia or stationed on the frontlines of the conflict. All claim to have been deceived into active military service.

Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs disclosed that it is in contact with others similarly ensnared, including Azad Yousf Kumar, a 31-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir. Kumar purportedly sustained a gunshot wound to the foot shortly after his enlistment while in a combat scenario.

Additionally, reports are indicating that at least 10 Indians from Karnataka, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh have found themselves in similarly distressing circumstances. They were dispatched to Russia under the guise of employment as security guards or laborers. Each individual allegedly paid ₹ 3 lakh to the agent who deceived them.

Last month, the government acknowledged that some Indians had become entangled in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine and stated that it is collaborating with Russian authorities to facilitate their repatriation.

Numerous Indians were purportedly promised support positions but were coerced into enlisting. They allegedly received inaccurate translations of documents and were compelled to undergo military training.

“We are cognizant of the situation… The Indian Embassy has raised the issue of their swift release with the relevant Russian authorities. We advise all Indians to steer clear of this conflict,” remarked a government spokesperson.