16 More Telangana Men Lured to Russian Army Camps, Three Return Home
At least 16 more men from Nizamabad, Kamareddy, and Sircilla districts in Telangana were allegedly lured into Russian military camps under the guise of civilian employment, taking the total number of identified victims from the region to 20. While three of the 16 men have returned home, efforts are currently underway to secure the return of the others.
According to sources, another four men from Telangana are believed to be actively fighting on the front lines for the Russian army against Ukraine. In connection with these deployments, the Nizamabad police have arrested an agent named Gourav for allegedly sending the four individuals to Russia.
Following appeals from affected families, Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind addressed an official letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on September 29, requesting diplomatic intervention for the repatriation of the 16 men. In his letter, the MP noted that family members approached him after the men, who had travelled abroad in search of livelihoods, reported being forced to undergo military training.
Representations from families and accounts provided by the stranded workers revealed that recruiters initially promised them lucrative support roles within the Russian army, including positions as cooks, cleaners, and gardeners. Upon arrival, however, the recruits allegedly faced rigorous and prolonged physical military training rather than non-combat duties. The men reported enduring inadequate food, poor accommodation, and insufficient sleep, and subsequently circulated videos and distress messages pleading for help.
The 16 men identified in the representation include Domakonda Suresh, Gaddam Shekar, Kodi Govinda, Dhora Golla Balaiah, Goruvanthula Limbadri, Kauda Rajashekar, Varanganti Karthik, Karisinapu Nagarjuna, Rebba Bharath, Kasturi Thirupathi, Santhapuri Raju, Chekrala Chinna Venkat, Bhukya Ravinder, Megavath Prakash, Sirshu Ashok, and Mohammed Afzal Khan. Authorities continue to monitor their status while working through diplomatic channels.
