Sonu Kumar and Aman Punjia grew up together in a tiny village of Madanheri in Haryana’s Hisar district. Born in 1994, Sonu did not live to see his 31st birthday— he died on the front lines of Russia’s war against Ukraine. When his body was sent back to India last month, it was unrecognisable due to the extent of the injuries. Aman’s family hasn’t heard from the 32-year-old since October 20, 2025.

These men are among 61 Indians currently fighting on the Russia - Ukraine war frontlines, says Jay Bhagwan, who has taken up the cause of bringing them back to India. “Two are dead that we know of for certain— Sonu from Hisar and Karmchand from Kethal,” he says. Among the others, at least 11 were flown back to India in November.

“The only way we could identify Sonu’s body was through the arm

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