---
title: "Dangerous path: Indian authorities urge citizens not to join Russian army"
description: "The Indian government urged citizens to avoid trips to Russia for military participation, warning of mortal danger amid a large-scale recruitment campaign."
date: 2026-10-01T11:22:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/india-urges-citizens-not-to-join-russian-army
tags: [india, russia, modi, mercenaries, ukraine-war]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Dangerous path: Indian authorities urge citizens not to join Russian army

![Flag of India and Russian military facilities](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/01/indiya-prizvala-grazhdan-ne-vstupat-v-armiyu-rf/indiya-prizvala-grazhdan-ne-vstupat-v-armiyu-rf-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The Indian government strongly discourages citizens from joining the Russian army.
- Recruiters lure Indians with false promises of well-paid employment.
- Authorities continue efforts to repatriate already recruited citizens.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised this issue during talks in Moscow.

The government of India has issued a firm and unequivocal statement strongly discouraging its citizens from traveling to Russia to participate in hostilities. Official New Delhi has openly warned of the extreme and mortal danger faced by compatriots signing contracts with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This reaction follows diplomatic missions and the Indian Embassy in Moscow recording a new alarming wave of recruitment of Indian expats amid the ongoing armed conflict against Ukraine.

### Background and New Delhi's diplomatic efforts

The issue of involving Indian citizens in Russian military formations is not new and has been under close scrutiny by the foreign policy department over the past two years. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly issued official warnings, urging compatriots to exercise maximum vigilance when seeking employment abroad and to avoid dubious offers from illegal recruiters.  The culmination of diplomatic pressure was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow in July 2024, during which the Indian leader personally raised the issue of the immediate release and repatriation of compatriots who ended up on the front lines through deception.

### Deception schemes and false promises of recruiters

Despite the measures taken, the flow of volunteers does not dry up, fueled by sophisticated methods employed by employment agents. Fraudsters use social media and front recruitment agencies to lure gullible citizens with promises of high-paying jobs, stable earnings, and prospects for quick emigration. In practice, recruits face the harsh reality of the frontline, devoid of normal conditions, legal protection, and the ability to terminate the contract. Indian authorities emphasize that many of those trapped realize the scale of the threat far too late.

### International scale of the problem and bilateral cooperation

India's foreign ministry continues active consultations and negotiations with Russian officials to ensure the safety and speedy return home of all Indians remaining in service.  It is worth noting that the practice of involving foreigners is systemic: according to analytical data, the Russian side has already recruited tens of thousands of citizens from various countries to participate in hostilities, with a significant proportion suffering heavy casualties. The Indian authorities urge the population to draw the right conclusions from the current situation and not risk their lives for dubious benefits.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- ["Опасный путь". Власти Индии призвали своих граждан не вступать в армию РФ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nebezpechniy-shlyah-vlada-indiyi-zaklikala-1790853099.html) - Официальные заявления МИД Индии относительно вербовки граждан в российскую армию.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Why did the Indian government issue this statement?
**A:** The statement was made due to an increase in recruitment cases of Indian citizens for the war against Ukraine and reports of their deaths.

### Q: What role did Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow play?
**A:** In July 2024, the Indian Prime Minister discussed the issue of Indian recruits with the Russian leadership, securing the return of some contract soldiers.