India on Friday confirmed that 44 Indian nationals are currently serving in the Russian Army, many of them reportedly coerced or misled into signing up for combat roles amid Moscow’s war with Ukraine.

“We have come to know of several Indian nationals who have been recruited into the Russian Army. As per our understanding, there are 44 Indian nationals presently serving there,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing.

Jaiswal said India had “once again taken up the matter with the Russian authorities” to secure the early release of those Indians and urged Moscow to immediately end the practice of such recruitment. “We are in touch with the Russian side and with the families of these people, keeping them informed of all developments,” he

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