The Ministry of External Affairs announced today that 45 Indians, who had been illegally conscripted into the Russian army to fight on the front lines against Ukraine, have been rescued from the war zone and discharged from the Russian military. Among them, six returned to India two days ago, with more expected to return in the near future.

MEA spokesperson also mentioned that there are still 50 more Indian nationals on the battlefields in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and efforts are being made to rescue and release them as well.

Jaiswal said, “Since PM Modi visited Russia in July, 35 Indians have been discharged from the Russian Army. Before the PM's visit 10 Indian nationals were discharged. Around 50 Indian nationals are still with the Russian Army, and we are trying our best to get them discharged as early as possible.”

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Modi that Russia would discharge all Indians who had been misled and wrongfully recruited into the Russian Army and subsequently forced to fight in Ukraine.

Earlier this year, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar stated that the "strongest legal action" would be pursued against those who deceived students from Kerala into fighting for Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

"It is unacceptable that any Indian should be taken to a conflict zone and in any manner be made to work for a conflict, for an army," Jaishankar had said.

Recent government information indicates that a total of 91 Indians were recruited into the Russian Army. Earlier in August, the government reported in parliament that eight Indian nationals had died while serving in the Russian military, up from the previously confirmed four deaths.