The Russian government claims it will stop recruiting Indians for its armed forces by April 2024.
Whether the conflict is in Europe or the Middle East, reports of Indian citizens losing their lives on foreign war fronts have become increasingly common. The latest such incident involves Binil T.B., a resident of Thrissur district in Kerala, who died on the Ukraine-Russia war front. Binil succumbed to injuries sustained in a drone strike in Russian-held Ukrainian territory, while his relative, T.K. Jain, is still fighting for his life in a military hospital.
This tragic news follows the death of Sandeep, another young man from Thrissur, who was killed last month during a Ukrainian counterattack in the Russian region of Kursk. According to the Indian Embassy in Moscow, six Indian youths have lost their lives on the Russian war front in the past year. The bodies of three have been repatriated, while the fate of others remains uncertain.
A Call for Caution
The Indian Embassy has issued repeated warnings, urging Indian citizens to avoid traveling to Russia for jobs such as electricians, plumbers, cooks, and drivers. Many of these jobs are offered by foreign-based recruitment companies that allegedly mislead Indian workers with false contracts. These individuals are often coerced into assisting the Russian military, with some being sent to the war front after only a week or two of rudimentary training.
Similar practices have been reported in the Middle East, where Indian citizens are said to be working as porters for the Israeli military. Despite warnings from the Ministry of External Affairs, individuals continue to migrate to conflict zones, driven by promises of better opportunities or citizenship.
Recruitment and Risks
The Russian government claims it will stop recruiting Indians for its armed forces by April 2024. However, last year’s intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs, which secured the release of 85 Indian citizens from the Russian military, underscores the challenges involved. The legal complexities tied to these misleading agreements make it difficult to extricate individuals from such situations.
For many, the lure of obtaining Russian or Israeli citizenship, along with compensation packages, outweighs the risks. The Russian government has reportedly been offering Rs. 1.30 crore in compensation to the families of deceased workers, along with benefits like citizenship and free education for their children.
Wider Concerns
It’s not just Russia and Israel; unscrupulous agents are also targeting Indian youth for recruitment in troubled regions like Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova. These countries, marketed as stepping stones to Western Europe, often trap migrants in poor conditions with low wages and precarious legal statuses.
A Call to Action
The Ministry of External Affairs must intensify efforts to combat this exploitation and raise awareness about the risks of migrating to conflict zones. Collaboration with the Home Ministry could enable the establishment of counseling counters at airports to guide potential migrants.
While migration cannot be forcibly stopped, it can be made safer and more beneficial with effective policies and education. The government must prioritize creating domestic employment opportunities to reduce the push factors driving individuals to seek risky opportunities abroad.
Proper awareness and vigilance are crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian citizens seeking a better life beyond the nation’s borders.
