India's foreign ministry confirmed Friday that some of the country's nationals had enlisted for
"support jobs"
in the Russian military, saying it was working with Moscow to secure their leave.
The Hindu
daily
reported on Wednesday that around 20 Indians were stranded in various border towns along the front lines of Russia's war in Ukraine.
At least three of them were
“forced”
to fight alongside the Russians, according to the newspaper.
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The Foreign Ministry did not confirm that Indians had played a combat role in the conflict but said in a statement that it was
"aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian military."
.
“The Indian Embassy has regularly raised this issue with the relevant Russian authorities so that they can discharge them,”
the statement said,
“we urge all Indian nationals to exercise caution and stay safe. 'away from this conflict'
.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: 10 Russians arrested in Nepal for illegal recruitment
Promises of high salaries
One of the enlisted Indians told the newspaper that his
“repeated requests”
for repatriation to the Indian embassy in Moscow had gone
“unheeded”
.
According to The Hindu, recruiters based in Dubai allegedly defrauded Indians by promising them high salaries and a Russian passport.
Upon their arrival in Moscow, these recruits were allegedly trained in the handling of
“weapons and ammunition by the Russian army”
and sent to the front lines in January.
The newspaper said some Indian nationals had volunteered for Ukrainian forces in the current conflict and were the first suspected cases of involvement on the other side.
Two years after the start of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian forces, deprived of ammunition and American aid, are faced with an
“extremely difficult”
situation , admitted the president, Volodymyr Zelensky.