New Delhi voices alarm as Indians continue to join Russian army amid Ukraine war

India has warned its citizens against being recruited into the Russian army amid the Ukraine war, calling it a “dangerous path".The country’s external affairs ministry said in a statement on Thursday that it continues to see reports of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian armed forces and has repeatedly underlined the risks and dangers inherent in this course of action.The ministry said it has come across numerous instances where individuals are willingly “seeking out offers to join the Russian armed forces with an understanding that they would be able to avail concomitant monetary benefits" and later “secure release” by approaching the Indian government.“It is reiterated that this is a dangerous path and is strongly discouraged by the government,” the ministry said.It said there are several cases in which “individuals have approached Indian authorities to willingly give up their Indian citizenship, avail a Russian passport and then get recruited into the Russian armed forces.”“It is advised that individuals should consider the gravity of such actions and understand the mortal dangers they are exposing themselves to,” the ministry said.The Indian government, the statement said, remains “continuously engaged with the Russian side to ensure the safety, well-being and early discharge of all Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces.”Last month, India said that it asked Russia to end the practice of recruiting its nationals in the military.According to figures released last month, 227 Indian nationals have been recruited into the Russian army since the beginning of the war in 2022.Of them, 139 had been discharged from service, while 51 people died.“This is an issue that we are in constant discussions with the Russian side,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters in New Delhi last month.In July this year, the Indian parliament was informed that there were 127 Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces, out of whom the services of 98 individuals were discontinued.The ministry said 13 Indian nationals remain in the Russian armed forces, of whom 12 individuals have been reported missing by the Russian side.Before that, in March, the Indian government had said 12 Indian nationals had lost their lives during the ongoing conflict.