Indian Man Recruited by Russian Army Remains Untraceable in Ukraine War

A 25-year-old man from Amroha, India, who traveled to Russia on a study visa in December 2024, was reportedly recruited into the Russian army and sent to the Ukraine war front. Akshay Kumar, a resident of Fatehpur Chhitara village, initially went to Russia to study and completed a three-month Russian language course. He later extended his stay and took a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant. According to his family, a woman named Alisha persuaded Akshay to join the Russian army, promising him citizenship and non-combat duties.

The family alleged that Akshay was initially told he would perform non-combat work like digging trenches and constructing tunnels. However, he was later deployed to the frontline. Akshay was injured by shrapnel during fighting on July 1, 2026, but returned to his military unit afterward. His last contact with his family was on August 24, and since then, they have had no information about his whereabouts.

Akshay’s elder brother, Aman, has repeatedly approached Indian and Russian authorities, seeking information about his brother’s condition and location. The family obtained passports to travel to Russia but abandoned the plan due to the expense and lack of contacts in the country. They have now appealed to the Indian government to intervene and facilitate Akshay’s return.

The Indian Embassy in Moscow informed the family that it had taken up Akshay’s release with the Russian Defence Ministry. However, Russian authorities maintained that Akshay had acquired Russian citizenship and could not be released from military service. The embassy requested Russian authorities to facilitate his release, but the family remains without any information about Akshay since August 24.