India on Thursday said that Russia should stop recruiting Indian nationals as support staff in the Russian military.
New Delhi also called for the release of all Indians currently serving in Russian armed forces following reports of fresh recruitment of Indians by the Russian military. India cautioned its nationals to not take offers to join the Russian military in view of ‘risks and dangers’ involved. Sources said people should be cautious with fraudulent recruitment agencies promising youth of settlement in Europe via Russian territory.
“We have seen reports about Indian nationals having been recruited recently into the Russian army,” external affairs ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said. “We have taken up the matter with Russian authorities, both in New Delhi and Moscow, asking that this practice be ended and that our nationals be released. We are also in touch with the families of the affected Indian citizens,” he said.
Indians are serving as support staff, such as cooks and helpers, with Russian military units.
