He went for studies, was deceived into army: Father awaits son’s body from Russia

The family of Rakesh Kumar from Haryana’s Rewari is awaiting the return of his 25-year-old son Anshu’s body from Russia after he was allegedly deceived into joining the army and killed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict .

Anshu travelled to Russia on April 20, 2025, on a study visa . His father Rakesh Kumar said, “We spent nearly Rs 6 lakh through a travel agent in Sonipat for his studies. He was promised a better future, but he was later pushed into the army.”

He alleged, “In November, we lost all contact with him. Later, a former Russian Army soldier called me on April 4 and informed me that my son had died.”

The body, he said, is still awaiting transfer from the front to Moscow before being sent to India.

Families allege youths were first sent for language courses and training , then made to sign Russian-language contracts and deployed to combat roles. They were promised lucrative jobs , but later told to do frontline work.

Rakesh said similar cases have emerged from Haryana and other states, adding that families believe youths were forced to fight on the front lines after being misled.

In Karnal, Anuj Sharma’s brother Arjun Sharma said, “He went on a student visa for a language course. Later we found he was sent to Ukraine forests after brief training.” He said the family lost contact in October and received his body in March.

Another victim, Ankit Jangra’s family from Fatehabad, said he was promised a security job of Rs 2.5 lakh per month but was later deployed after signing documents in Russian.

Bodies of at least four youths from Haryana have now been returned. Families staged protests at Jantar Mantar , demanding accountability.

Social worker Jai Bhagwan said youths from Punjab and other states are also affected, calling it a “systematic fraud network.”

The case adds to rising allegations of a cross-border recruitment racket exploiting study visas and job promises.