The Congress party has raised concerns about the whereabouts of 14 Indian citizens who traveled to Russia seeking employment opportunities. The party is urging the Indian government to intervene and collaborate with Moscow to ensure their safe return.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring addressed the media, accompanied by relatives of the missing individuals, who have been awaiting their return for approximately a year and a half. Warring stated that in December 2023, around 126 people went abroad with the hope of securing jobs in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Italy. However, they were allegedly misled and taken to Moscow.

According to Warring, these individuals were then purportedly recruited into the Russian army. He claimed that one of the individuals, along with four others, paid ₹31,40,000 to agents but were ultimately not provided with the promised work. Warring further stated that approximately 100 of the 126 individuals have returned, but 14 remain missing. He presented a list containing the names and contact information of these missing individuals, who hail from various states, including Uttar Pradesh (9), Punjab (3), Maharashtra (1), and Jammu and Kashmir (1).

Warring criticized the central government, questioning their efforts to assist the missing individuals and their families. He inquired whether the government would address the issue with Russia, investigate the recruitment of Indian citizens into the Russian army, and take action against agents allegedly colluding with the Russian government.

This is not the first time concerns have been raised about Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian military. In January 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported that 16 Indians were missing and 12 had died while working with the Russian army. The MEA also stated that it had recorded 126 cases involving Indian nationals serving in or associated with the Russian armed forces, with 96 having returned to India.

Reports indicate that many of these individuals were allegedly deceived by agents who promised jobs but instead placed them in combat roles. Some families have claimed they paid large sums of money to these agents. In certain instances, the families were contacted by the Indian Embassy in Moscow, requesting DNA samples for identification purposes, highlighting the dire circumstances and the challenges in locating the missing individuals. Some families have expressed financial difficulties in even affording DNA tests.

The issue has been raised at high levels, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly discussing the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions in 2024. The Indian government has stated it is actively engaging with Russian authorities to expedite the release and repatriation of the remaining individuals.