The Russian army has been waging war against Ukraine for more than two years. Thousands of Russian men have now died on the battlefield, which is why the Kremlin is constantly taking new measures to fill the ranks of its troops. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to raise the age limit for officers from 50 to 70, according to a report. The UK Ministry of Defense intelligence update recently stated that an increase in the age limit for regular soldiers was also planned.
But Putin also appeals to men from abroad – and human traffickers use this to their advantage. In countries where there is sometimes great poverty, they recruit men by promising them a fixed monthly salary. Some people are not told that they have to go to war for this.
Human traffickers lure people with ‘lucrative jobs’
As British broadcaster BBC reports, citing India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a network of human traffickers was recently discovered in India, reportedly spanning several states. About 35 people are said to have fallen victim to this.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Moscow confirmed the death of an Indian national recruited by the Russian army for the war against Ukraine. The embassy was in contact with the family of 30-year-old Mohammed Asfan and the Russian authorities, she said, when they were sent to Ukraine.
The problem has been known in India for some time: according to the CBI, human traffickers in India attract ‘gullible’ young people via social media such as YouTube. In messages they promise them “lucrative jobs” if they travel to Russia. According to the CBI, they would then be trained for war ‘against their will’ and deployed to the front in Ukraine.
15,000 Nepalese in the war against Ukraine
Reports from several people confirm this: an Indian citizen told the BBC that he too was lured to Russia by a YouTube channel with a monthly salary of 150,000 rupees (1,658 euros). “We were not told we would be drafted into an army,” he said.
It is unclear how many Indian citizens this happened to. But if you look at other countries, the number can be enormous. Research by the American broadcaster CNN shows that more than 15,000 people from Nepal have recently been lured into the war against Ukraine. You can read more about it here. They were promised a monthly salary of 2,000 dollars (about 1,850 euros) and an accelerated process to obtain a Russian passport.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs did not provide further details. “However, some Indian nationals reported to the Russian military for support duties,” the authority admitted. Discussions are now underway to contact the affected people and remove them from military service. The ministry also warned citizens to “exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict.”
Used sources:
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
