Around 24 Indian citizens who were hired through fraudulent and non-transparent means continue to serve with the Russian army as the war in Ukraine persists, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (July 31, 2026).

Official Spokesperson of the MEA Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Ministry has been consistently following up on the issue of Indians in the Russian army. He said India continues to focus on creating reliable and secure channels for the mobility of various segments of its blue-collar workforce.

Ongoing repatriations

“We have been following up with the Russian side for the release of the remaining Indian nationals with the Russian army. Our efforts have led to the release of 139 Indian nationals so far,” Mr. Jaiswal said during a bi-weekly briefing.

In May, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that 49 Indians had died while serving with the Russian army in the Ukraine conflict.

”We continue to pursue the release of around two dozen Indian nationals who reportedly joined and still remain with the Russian army.

We once again caution our people against job offers that are fraught with risks and made by unscrupulous individuals or agencies,” he further said.

The Russia-Ukraine war has seen an increased presence of foreign fighters. The Hindu first reported on the presence of Indian citizens in the Russian army in February 2024, as the conflict entered its third year. 

In November 2025, the MEA stated that the number of Indians illegally recruited into the Russian army had fallen to 44. The issue has been part of bilateral discussions since it first came to light and is expected to feature in high-level talks in the near future.

Published - July 31, 2026 09:00 pm IST