Kashmiri Men Enlisted as Mercenaries in Russia’s Ukraine Conflict

Srinagar : Two men from Jammu and Kashmir have found themselves unwittingly embroiled in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, leaving their families distraught and pleading for assistance from the Ministry of External Affairs.

In a distressing turn of events, Aazad Yousuf Kumar, a resident of Poshwan in the Awantipora district, believed he was heading to Dubai for a job opportunity in December 2023. However, he and several others were allegedly deceived by a Dubai-based consultancy and deployed as mercenaries for Russia on the Ukrainian frontline.

According to Mohammad Yousuf Kumar, Aazad’s father, the consultancy vanished after their arrival in Russia, leaving the men stranded. Aazad, undergoing Russian army training, accidentally injured himself during a mishap, compounding his family’s worries. Despite sporadic communication via social media, Aazad’s inability to speak Russian has left him disoriented about his whereabouts.

Similarly, Zahoor Ahmad from Hajinar Tangdar in Kupwara has also gone missing in Russia under similar circumstances. Employed in Chandigarh, Zahoor travelled to Russia with companions, only to vanish without a trace.

In response to these alarming cases, the Ministry of External Affairs has assured proactive measures to address the plight of Indians caught up in foreign conflicts. The families, meanwhile, anxiously await their loved ones’ safe return, urging swift action from authorities.

The incidents underscore the vulnerability of unsuspecting individuals lured into murky employment schemes abroad, emphasizing the urgent need for robust safeguards to prevent such exploitation and ensure the safety of citizens working overseas.