Four Indians tricked to join Wagner Group, allegedly forced to participate in Russia-Ukraine War: Report
- In Reports
- 03:42 PM, Feb 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
Family members of four Indian nationals have alleged that foreign recruiters in Russia deceived their relatives into joining the Wagner Group, a private military company previously engaged in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Times of India reported that Mohammed Sufiyan, a 22-year-old from the Indian state of Telangana, and three other individuals from Karnataka's Kalaburagi, sent distress signals to their families after finding themselves stranded in Russia.
They claimed to have been coerced into joining the Russian army to participate in the conflict against Ukraine. Sufiyan sent a video to his family, in which he appeared wearing army fatigue and asserted that they had fallen victim to recruitment fraud.
Sufiyan stated that recruiters had sent them to Russia on December 23 under the pretext of employment as security assistants. However, they were coerced into participating in the Russia-Ukraine war against their wishes. In the video, Sufiyan pleaded, "Please save us, we are victims of sophisticated fraud."
During a visit to Dubai in 2023, the four Indians were offered lucrative jobs by recruitment agents. They returned to India in November but were sent back to Russia a month later. Boarding a flight from Chennai to Russia on visitor visas, they were promised salaries exceeding Rs 2 lakh ($24,118.74) per month as army security helpers.
Recruiters provided them with Rs 3.5 lakh ($4,220.77) as a security deposit. The Times of India reported that aside from these individuals, an additional 60 Indians were forcefully enlisted into Russia's private army during the Ukraine conflict.
According to the report, they are stationed just 40 km from the Ukraine border and managed to send a message to their families using a mobile phone borrowed from a Russian army personnel.
Syed Salman, told The Times of India, "When my brother Sufiyan spoke with me 15 days ago, he said they were just 40km from the Ukraine border. He said they were sent there much against their will. He said they have been deceived."
He added, "When my brother got one rare opportunity, he made use of a mobile phone belonging to a Russian army man and sent us a message. He begged that he and others should be helped to return to India at any cost."
Image source: Times of India
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