7 Indian Tourists From Punjab, Haryana Duped In Russia & Forced Into Ukraine War

New Delhi: Seven youths from Punjab and Haryana have made an urgent request to the Indian authorities to rescue them, alleging that they were duped into military service in Russia and have been deployed to take part in the Ukraine war, reported NDTV.

These seven Indians allegedly forced to take part in the Russia-Ukraine war are Gagandeep Singh (24), Lovepreet Singh (24), Narain Singh (22), Gurpreet Singh (21), Gurpreet Singh (23), Harsh Kumar (20) and Abhishek Kumar (21). While five of them are from Punjab, the other two are from Haryana, reported The Hindu reported.

In a 105-second video circulating on X, these seven men are in military winter jackets or skull caps are housed in a dimly lit and unkempt room with a sealed window at one end. In the video message, they describe their predicament and appeal for aid.

NDTV reported that these seven Indians left for Russia on December 27 on a New Year pleasure trip with a visa valid for 90 days.

But an agent offered to take them to Belarus. And they entered Belarus without a visa, where the agent abandoned them. The police caught then and handed them over to the Russian authorities, who made allegedly made them sign documents.

After that, they were forced to fight in the war against Ukraine.

Amrit Singh, the brother of Gurpreet Singh who is also reportedly seen in the video, told NDTV that the men were “forced” into military service. “They were forced to join the army there since the documents which they signed in Belarus were in the Russian language. It said they either accept imprisonment for 10 years or join the Russian army.

Reports have suggested that up to 100 Indian nationals had been recruited as support staff by the Russian Army and that dozens of them had been forced to fight on the border with Ukraine.

Last week, the external affairs ministry said about 20 Indian nationals serving with the Russian military have approached authorities seeking help for their discharge.