WHY INDIANS FIGHTING UKRAINE AS RUSSIAN ARMY?

BACKGROUND: DECEPTIVE JOB OFFER

• Mohammad Ahmed travelled from Russia from Telangana in April, hoping to find employment in the construction industry.
• But, within weeks of his arrival, he found himself trapped in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine war, allegedly coerced into fighting on the frontlines after being defrauded by his job agent.

WIFE COMES TO THE RESCUE

• His wife, Afsha Begum, a resident of Hyderabad, has appealed to the Foreign Ministry to help in rescuing her husband, who she claims has been trapped in Russia and forced into combat training.
• In a letter addressed to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, Ahmed’s wife said a Mumbai-based consultancy firm had offered her husband a job in a construction company in Russia.
• She said that, according to their agreement, Ahmed left India in April 2025 and entered Russia.
• She claimed her husband was made to sit without work for nearly a month, and later, along with 30 others, he was shifted to a remote area and provided weapons training forcefully.
• "After training, 26 persons were taken to the border area to fight the Ukrainian Army. While being taken to the border area, Ahmed jumped from the army vehicle, due to which he suffered a fracture in his right leg. He refused to fight. But he is being threatened to either fight against the Ukrainian Army or get killed," Afsha Begum said.
• Afsha Begum urged the government to arrange her husband’s immediate repatriation, as, according to her, he is the sole breadwinner of the family, including his paralysed mother, herself, and their two children, aged ten and four.

AHMED’S VIDEO

• In a selfie video recorded by Ahmed, purportedly in Russia, he said that out of 25 men who trained with him, 17 have been killed, including an Indian.
• "The place where I am is a border, and war is going on. We four Indians refused to go (into the warzone). They threatened us to fight and pointed a weapon at me and another person... They placed a gun to my neck and said that they would shoot me and stage it as if I was killed by a drone," Ahmed said.
• "I have a plaster on my leg and am unable to walk. Please do not spare the agent who sent me here (Russia). He got me entangled in all this. He made me sit here for 25 days without work. I kept asking for work, but in vain. I was forcefully dragged into this in the guise of employment in Russia," he added.

OWAISI’S REQUEST

• Ahmed’s family members, including his wife, also approached All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asauddin Owaisi last week and requested him to bring Ahmed back to Hyderabad.
• On the family’s request, Owaisi has also appealed to the Foreign Ministry and the Indian Embassy in Russia to bring back Ahmed.
• In his letter to the embassy, the AIMIM chief urged authorities to take immediate action for Ahmed’s safe repatriation.

INDIA’S REQUEST TO RUSSIA

• In response, Tadu Mamu, Counsellor at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, said that the embassy has shared Ahmed’s details with the Russian authorities and has requested them to ensure his early discharge from the Russian army and safe repatriation to the country.
• "The Embassy has been following up on all cases of Indian nationals in the Russian Army on priority," the official said.
• The embassy will keep the family informed on any further updates regarding Ahmed, the official further said.
• Last month, India also called upon Russia to release 27 more nationals who were recently recruited in the Russian military.
• Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi has come to know that more Indians are working with the Russian military, with new inputs coming from their families.

Editor’s Note

• The story of Mohammad Ahmed is a stark reminder of how vulnerable citizens can fall prey to deceit and coercion in pursuit of livelihood abroad. What began as a hopeful journey to Russia for employment has tragically turned into a nightmare — forced into combat, injured, and threatened with death. This incident highlights not just the human cost of conflict but the global loopholes that unscrupulous agents exploit to ensnare innocent people in wars far from home. Ahmed’s plight also underscores the urgent responsibility of governments to protect their citizens abroad. The coordinated efforts by his family, political leaders, and the Indian Embassy reflect the crucial role of timely intervention and diplomatic channels in preventing such human tragedies. Beyond borders, this case is a sobering reminder of the human faces behind geopolitical conflicts — ordinary lives disrupted by extraordinary violence. It calls for greater vigilance, stricter accountability for recruitment agencies, and a reinforced safety net for Indians working overseas. At its core, this is not just Ahmed’s struggle; it is a plea for justice, protection, and humanity in an increasingly unpredictable world.
• #mohammadahmed #indiansabroad #russianarmy #ukraineconflict