MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal further stated that Indians in Russia have been urged not to enter the battle zone or fall into dangerous situations. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said reporters that the Indian government is in contact with Russian authorities in its efforts to return Indians to their homeland.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that at least 20 Indians are stranded in Russia, awaiting discharge from the Russian army. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters that the Indian government is in contact with Russian authorities in its efforts to return Indians to their homeland.

MEA spokesperson Jaiswal emphasised that the government was doing everything possible to expedite their release. He also stated that Indians in Russia have been cautioned not to enter the battle zone or become involved in dangerous situations.

We understand that 20 people have gone there to work as support workers or helpers for the Russian army. “These are the people who have contacted us, and we believe that this is the number that we have,” Randhir Jaiswal said.

On February 26, the MEA announced that numerous Indians captured in the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian conflict had already been released from the Russian army.

“Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been vigorously pursued with Russian authorities, while those brought to the attention of the Ministry have been pursued with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. “Several Indians have already been released as a result,” the MEA stated in a press release.

The external affairs ministry further indicated that it was actively pushing the early discharge of Indian nationals from the Russian army.

“We remain committed, as a matter of top priority, to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army,” the ministry said in a statement.

The families of two Jammu and Kashmir residents who became mercenaries for Russia fighting against Ukraine on the front lines had asked the MEA for assistance in bringing them home.