New Delhi: An Indian national from Kerala has been killed on the warfront in Eastern Europe, while another was injured, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Tuesday. The two were part of over 100 Indians who were recruited to serve in the Russian army for Moscow’s war with Ukraine.
“Our Embassy in Moscow is in touch with the families, and all possible assistance is being rendered. We are working with the Russian authorities for early transportation of the mortal remains to India. We have also sought the early discharge and repatriation to India of the injured person,” said Randhir Jaiswal, the MEA spokesperson, in response to media queries.
He added: “The matter has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities in Moscow as well as with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi today. We have also reiterated our demand for the early discharge of the remaining Indian nationals.”
The Indian individual killed in Russia has been identified as Binil T.B. and the one injured has been identified as Jain T.K., according to media reports. The two had travelled to Russia in April last year in pursuit of jobs and ended up being recruited by the Russian armed forces.
A little over 100 Indians were recruited by the Russian army. The “special military operation” in Ukraine was initiated by Moscow in February 2022. Since then, a number of foreign individuals have served at the war front.
Most recently, on 11 January, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the capture of two North Korean soldiers as prisoners of war, while reports indicate that Pyongyang has sent a large contingent of troops to aid Russia’s war efforts. Nepal, last January, had halted work permits for its citizens to Russia and Ukraine, following reports of their nationals signing up to serve in these armed forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin during the former’s visit to Moscow in July last year. Modi was assured by Moscow that the remaining Indians in the warzone would be repatriated immediately.
Also Read: India summons top Bangladesh diplomat as tensions over border fencing escalate
MEA pushing for Indians’ release
Of those recruited by the Russian army to serve in a variety of roles, the MEA has been able to work on the release of at least 95. The ministry has been working on the release of the few remaining Indians, who have reached out to India’s missions in Russia. These included the now deceased national from Kerala.
About 12 Indians have perished so far since being recruited by the Russian army. New Delhi has been raising the issue of Indians employed in the Russian military for nearly a year. In February 2024, the MEA had acknowledged that Indians have signed up for jobs in Russia’s armed forces, and urged for their immediate release and repatriation from Moscow.
Indians hailing from at least eight states and one Union territory—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, and Jammu and Kashmir—have been documented as recruits for the Russian army in support roles, such as security helpers. However, some of the Indians have claimed they were forced to fight on the front lines.
Two Indians were confirmed killed by the MEA in March 2024, while Tejpal Singh from Amritsar was confirmed dead in June 2024. Singh had travelled to Russia via Thailand in December 2023, and eventually signed up with the Russian army around 15 January, 2024, as reported by ThePrint earlier.
Singh’s family claimed that he had received only two weeks of training before being deployed to the frontlines. A number of Indians, however, have claimed that they were deceived into signing up for the Russian army.
In July 2024, the family of Ravi Mator was informed of his death in the warzone. Mator was killed sometime in March. His family said that he was cheated by a recruiting agent in India, and once he arrived in Moscow, he was given two options, to join the army or go to jail, as reported by ThePrint earlier.
Five others from Haryana had travelled with Mator and were all recruited for jobs, but were forced to join the Russian army.
In the first half of 2024, Moscow was stonewalling India on the return of Indians stuck in the warzone. In June last year, MEA issued a strong statement demanding a “verified stop” to any further recruitment of Indian nationals to the Russian military.
However, by July, after Modi’s visit, the two governments were able to hasten the pace of the number of Indians released and repatriated home.
Also Read: India gets its way, Indonesian president Prabowo ‘not to visit’ Pakistan after Republic Day parade