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Bodies of 2 Indians killed successful the Russia-Ukraine warfare portion arrived astatine the Delhi airdrome connected Wednesday (December 17, 2025). Since September, astatine slightest 4 Indians person been killed successful the warfare portion and 59 others are missing.
The deceased person been identified arsenic Ajay Godara (22), a nonmigratory of Rajasthan, and Rakesh Kumar (30) from Uttarakhand. Both Godara and Kumar had gone to Russia successful the past 1 twelvemonth connected pupil visa but were allegedly enlisted successful the Russian Army aft being misled by agents who promised them enactment arsenic cleaners and helpers.
On December 3, up of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s State sojourn to India, Lok Sabha subordinate from Nagaur, Rajasthan, Hanuman Beniwal raised the contented of harmless instrumentality of 61 Indians allegedly enlisted successful the Russian Army to enactment successful the ongoing warfare against Ukraine.
Prakash Godara, a relative of Ajay Godara, told The Hindu that they received a telephone from the Indian Embassy successful Moscow connected December 9 informing them astir the death.
“We were told connected December 9 that Ajay has been killed successful Russia. He past spoke to his household connected September 21. Since then, determination was nary connection with him. Before going incommunicado, helium had sent a video pleading for help. He said they were being forcibly sent to the warfare zone,” Mr. Prakash Godara said.
The household took the assemblage to Bikaner successful Rajasthan wherever helium was cremated connected Wednesday evening. He is survived by his parents and a sister. The decease certificate issued by Russia states that helium died “during progressive subject service.”
Godara’s household was among scores of radical from crossed the state who protested astatine Delhi’s Jantar Mantar doubly seeking government’s intervention.
The household had met Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, besides a section MP, respective times and had raised the substance with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Pankaj Kumar, a person of the different deceased, Rakesh Kumar, said the household got to cognize astir the decease 5 days ago.
“The household was told that helium died successful the Donbas area. He past spoke to them connected August 30. We received the assemblage astatine the Delhi airdrome today,” Mr. Pankaj Kumar said.
The Hindu reported connected September 10 that Indians continued to beryllium enlisted successful the Russian Army contempt an assurance by Moscow successful 2024 that it nary longer admits Indians.
On September 11, the MEA said it had taken up the substance with the Russian authorities, some successful Delhi and Moscow, asking that “this signifier beryllium ended and that our nationals beryllium released.”
In 2024, aft India powerfully raised the issue, the Russian Embassy said successful a connection connected August 10, 2024 that it nary longer admits Indians into its Army, adding it was moving successful “close coordination” with the Indian authorities to assistance discharge Indian nationals recruited for the warfare successful Ukraine. The 2 countries person been astatine warfare since February 24, 2022.
The MEA has issued respective warnings and advisories cautioning Indians from falling prey to specified jobs.
On November 8, MEA spokesperson said determination were 44 Indian nationals presently serving successful the Russian Army.
