New Delhi: Some Indian nationals “voluntarily signed up contracts to join the Russian Army, lured by attractive salary packages” including “an upfront bonus of around USD 5,000, a monthly salary of about US$ 2500” and “the promise of Russian citizenship”, the Ministry of External Affairs told the Supreme Court on Friday.
They were also promised a “compensation of about USD 168,000 in case of death”, the ministry said in a compliance status report.
The Russian government had “prominently promoted” contractual military services through advertisements and offered inducements, including substantial “monetary benefits, signing bonuses, monthly remuneration, compensation packages”, the MEA said.
It also included other social security benefits such as the grant of citizenship, pardoning of prison sentences/terms, and opportunities for expelled students to resume their studies”, the report added.
The status report was in response to a writ petition filed by the family members of 26 Indians, who reportedly joined the Russian Army at the start of the Ukraine conflict.
The petition, heard on Friday, has sought action against the agents who lured Indians to go to Russia on the promise of jobs and Russian citizenship.
On the previous date of hearing in April, the bench had directed the ministry to file a detailed status report on the steps taken to address the matter.
According to the status report filed by the MEA, the lure of foreign currency and a Russian passport played a significant role in recruitment. Beyond the immediate cash bonuses, the Russian government offered a pathway to legal residency and citizenship that proved irresistible to many, the MEA said.
For those already entangled in the Russian legal system, the offer was even more specialised, the affidavit said, while giving two illustrations on this point.
As per the affidavit, two Indian students—Kishore Saravanan and Sahil Mahamadhusen Majothi—reportedly joined the Russian Army while serving prison sentences for narcotics-related matters to avail themselves of amnesty and pecuniary benefits.
Following his discharge from jail, which took place owing to the Indian government’s intervention, Saravanan is believed to have remained in Russia after acquiring a Russian passport, the affidavit discloses.
Status report on deaths and missing persons
As of May 2026, approximately 217 Indian nationals are reported to have joined the Russian armed forces. Through sustained diplomatic efforts, the Indian government secured the release of 139 individuals.
However, 49 are reported to have lost their lives in the conflict.
The status of another 23 individuals remains unknown, while six have been confirmed missing by Russian authorities, as per the report.
The identification process remains difficult even though the Indian government has collected DNA reports from the immediate family members of 21 individuals to facilitate the tracing of missing persons and the identification of mortal remains.
In eight specific cases, the Indian Embassy facilitated the transportation of mortal remains back to India, with expenses borne by the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).
The voluntary nature of some enlistments is complicated by the presence of predatory recruitment networks. The CBI has busted major human trafficking rings that lured youth through social media channels like YouTube under the guise of high-paying technical or construction jobs.
As per the MEA’s affidavit, victims were often promised roles as “army security helpers” but were instead trained in combat roles and deployed to frontlines against their wishes.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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