'End practice of recruiting Indians into Russian military' | India to Russia

India on Thursday urged its citizens to stay away from offers to join the Russian Army and demanded Moscow to end its practice of recruiting Indians as support staff into the Russian military. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has taken up the matter with Russian authorities, both in Delhi and Moscow. New Delhi's move came following reports that some Indians on student and business visas were forced into joining Russian military units deployed on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. The ministry cautioned its Indian nationals to not take offers to join the Russian military in view of inherent "risks and dangers" involved. "We have seen reports about Indian nationals having been recruited recently into the Russian army," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "The government has on several occasions over the past one year underlined the risks and dangers inherent in this course of action and cautioned Indian citizens accordingly," he said. Jaiswal was responding to media queries on the issue. "We have also taken up the matter with Russian authorities, both in Delhi and Moscow, asking that this practice be ended and that our nationals be released. We are also in touch with the families of the affected Indian citizens," he said. "We once again strongly urge all Indian nationals to stay away from any offers to join the Russian army as this is a course fraught with danger," Jaiswal added. It is not immediately known the number of Indian nationals recruited by the Russian military in recent months. According to official details, 126 Indians were recruited by the Russian military in the past, and 12 were killed. Ninety-six Indians were released by Russian authorities, and 16 were categorised as missing. India has been repeatedly asking Russia to release all Indians serving as support staff, such as cooks and helpers, with Russian military units. The issue was raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Russia last year as well.