Congress urges Centre to find out the status of Indians stranded in Russia

Questioning the Narendra Modi government’s “inability” to trace and bring back 14 Indians who were forcibly pushed into fighting for the Russian Army in its war against Ukraine, the Congress on Friday (June 27, 2025) urged the government to strongly take up their case with Russia.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said 126 Indian citizens from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir and Maharashtra were trafficked into the Russian Army to fight war. At least 14 remain missing in, he added.

He claimed that these men were tempted by agents by promising employment in Singapore, Malaysia or Italy, but were instead sent to Russia.

“They were handed rifles to fight after 15 days of training, pushing them into a brutal conflict, despite a few of them having physical disabilities,” Mr. Warring said.

“Why was Russia allowed to recruit Indian civilians in its Army without due permission,” the Punjab Congress chief asked, adding, “why have their families not received official updates?”

Mr. Warring addressed the press conference along with Jagdeep Kumar of Punjab, whose brother Mandeep has been missing for over a year. Khusboo Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, whose brother Joginder Yadav is untraceable since May last year, was also present.

Mr. Kumar said he had even travelled to Russia to trace his brother but was unsuccessful.

“The Indian Embassy officials in Moscow didn’t help him at all, they refused to provide even the address of the Russia’s External Ministry office,” he said. “Are we so helpless as a country to find our own? I appeal to the Prime Minister,” he added.