Dozens of Indian Youth Stuck in Russia: Families Seek Government Help
Indian Youth Lured by Job Promises, Now Trapped in War Zone
Several Indian youths who went to Russia on student visas have found themselves forcibly recruited into the Russian army. They were promised high-paying jobs but are now stranded in a war zone with little food, no training, and no way to return home.
Videos circulating on social media show these young men pleading for help, saying they were given guns without any training and forced to sign incomprehensible contracts. Their trembling voices reveal the horror of being trapped in a war they never intended to fight.
Five Indians Dead, Families Demand Action
Out of 15 boys who had gone to Moscow, five have reportedly died on the front line. The victims, who hail from Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh, were pushed into the Russia–Ukraine conflict despite being untrained civilians.
Families have appealed to the Indian government to rescue their sons. “They were students, not soldiers. Please bring them home,” said one distraught parent.
A Web of Deception Behind Recruitment
Behind the tragedy lies a network of deceitful recruitment practices. The victims were allegedly promised jobs paying ₹1.5 lakh per month as construction workers near Moscow. Instead, they were sent to Russian army camps.
Reports suggest that a woman recruiter convinced many of them that it was a government-approved project. Once in Russia, they were coerced at gunpoint to sign contracts written in Russian — documents they could not even read.
Fatehabad Youth Among Those Trapped
Residents of Fatehabad district in Haryana — Ankit Jangra and Vijay Poonia — are among those confirmed to be stuck in the conflict zone. Another student, Saint Anna, has also been reported missing. Several youths from Sonipat, Ambala, and Uttar Pradesh remain untraceable.
According to Sandeep’s parents from Fatehabad, their son left for Russia in September 2024 on a student visa after paying ₹6,00,000 to an agent. They now claim his passport and phone have been confiscated, leaving him completely isolated.
MEA and Embassy Response
The Indian Embassy in Moscow has confirmed the presence of Indian nationals in the Russian war zone. In February 2024, The Hindu first reported on the situation. Later, on August 10, 2024, the Russian Embassy in India announced that it had stopped admitting Indian citizens into its army.
Despite these assurances, new videos continue to emerge in 2025 showing Indian youths stranded and desperate for help.
YouTuber Behind the Recruitment Drive
Investigations have pointed towards Faisal Khan, the man behind the popular YouTube channel BABA’s Vlogs. Operating from Mumbai’s Dadar area, Khan allegedly lured dozens of Indians with promises of high-paying, non-combat jobs in Russia.
From mid-2023, his channel began promoting Russian army recruitment under the guise of “safe jobs after training.” However, victims later claimed they were forced into combat roles after being made to sign misleading contracts.
A Growing Concern
The plight of these Indian youths highlights the growing menace of international job scams exploiting economic desperation. Families are urging the Indian government to ensure the safe return of those still trapped in Russia and to take action against fraudulent recruitment networks operating within India.
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