The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has claimed the life of another Indian national, raising renewed concerns about the involvement of foreign fighters and the potential for misinformation.
The family of the deceased alleges he was deceived into joining the Russian Army, highlighting the complex and tragic circumstances surrounding some individuals caught in the crossfire.
It has been alleged that a number of agents lured young men to Russia from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Second Indian dies fighting for Russian and Ukraine War
The pressure on Indian authorities to identify and repatriate all individuals who are allegedly forced to fight alongside Russian troops after taking up support jobs has increased after a second Indian person lost his life while fighting alongside the Russian Army in the front lines of the conflict with Ukraine.
The Indian embassy in Moscow confirmed the death of Indian national Mohammed Asfan in a post on X. The 30-year-old from Hyderabad travelled to Russia late last year and reports have said he was seriously injured along with two other Indians in hostilities in a conflict zone last month. According to Asfan’s family, he is survived by his wife and two children.
“We have learnt about the tragic death of an Indian national Shri Mohammed Asfan. We are in touch with the family and Russian authorities. Mission will make efforts to send his mortal remains to India,” the Indian embassy posted on X.
The specifics of Asfan’s death and his journey to the combat zone were not disclosed by the embassy.
Earlier, 23-year-old Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangukiya, a resident of Surat in Gujarat, was killed in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a “security helper” with the Russian Army at Donetsk, a part of Ukraine occupied by Russia. Mangukiya travelled to Russia last December.
Asfan’s elder brother Mohammad Imran said he went to Russia on a flight from Chennai via Sharjah in November 2023. “He contacted a travel agent, who ran a YouTube channel called BabaVlogs and offered him a job in Russia. He was told he had to assist the Russian Army and wouldn’t be deployed on the frontlines,” Imran said.
Imran added that Asfan signed a one-year contract on November 13, 2023. “The contract was in Russian and the agent told us that it was safe to sign the agreement,” he said.
Another brother of the victim, Mohammed Irfan, contacted Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi after the family was unable to contact Asfan over the past week. “We got confirmation of his death today [Wednesday],” said Owaisi, who has taken up the case of several young men from Telangana serving with the Russian Army who now want to return home.
Reports also said a letter sent by a recruitment agent for facilitating Asfan’s Russian visa application said he earlier worked in a semiconductor firm in Hyderabad and had been offered a job to provide IT services in Russia. However, Asfan’s relatives said he was an employee of a clothes store till last September and had no IT skills.
“The Russian side is now taking the matter more seriously,” a second person said, adding the issue had been complicated because some Indians were recruited from places such as Dubai.
Besides BabaVlogs, several agents have been accused of duping young men from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and sending them to Russia to take up support jobs in the army. The external affairs ministry has said that every case “brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities”.
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Following reports that certain Indians with support jobs in the Russian Army had been forced to fight alongside Russian forces, India has cautioned its citizens not to get involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Earlier, there were reports of up to 200 men from Nepal being recruited by the Russian military. Nepal’s foreign ministry acknowledged in December that six Nepalese nationals serving in the Russian Army were killed in the war with Ukraine.
The war triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is now in its third year. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has verified 30,457 civilian casualties, including 10,582 killed and 19,875 injured since the war began
FAQs:
1. Who was the deceased Indian national?
The identity of the deceased is not being disclosed due to privacy concerns. However, reports indicate he was a 30-year-old man from Hyderabad, India.
2. How did he end up fighting for the Russian Army?
The family of the deceased claims he was misled into believing he would be taking up a security guard position in Russia. However, he was allegedly pressured or forced to join the military upon arrival.
3. Is this an isolated incident?
This is the second reported case of an Indian national dying while fighting for the Russian Army in Ukraine. These incidents raise concerns about the potential for others being misled or coerced into similar situations.
4. What are the broader implications of foreign fighters in the war?
The presence of foreign fighters on both sides of the conflict adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation, potentially prolonging the war and raising international legal and ethical questions.
5. How can people stay informed about the war responsibly?
It is crucial to rely on trusted and verified sources of information to avoid misinformation and propaganda surrounding the conflict. Consulting credible news outlets and organizations dedicated to fact-checking can help individuals form a more accurate understanding of the situation.
