J Vamsi from Andhra Pradesh travelled to Russia for work but got tricked into joining the army. His mother, J Appalakonda, said her son was taken towards Ukraine and now fears for his life. She urged the government to intervene and ensure his safe return home as soon as possible.
An Andhra Pradesh man who travelled to Russia in search of work was deceived into joining the Russian Army and later taken towards Ukraine, prompting his mother to seek government intervention for his safe return, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
In a video message, a person purported to be J Vamsi, along with four other Indians, claimed they were being sent to frontline areas near the Russia-Ukraine border and feared for their lives.
Vamsi's mother, J Appalakonda, said her son had travelled to Russia for fruit-packing work but found no employment after reaching the country.
She said he later came into contact with a Nepali national who promised him a better-paying job in Ukraine and took him there.
"My son went to Russia for fruit-packing work but was allegedly deceived into joining the Russian Army and subsequently taken to Ukraine. I appeal to the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government to intervene and ensure his safe return," Appalakonda told reporters.
She urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and IT Minister Nara Lokesh to help bring her son home.
"I have nobody. I have a son and a daughter, and my husband is also no longer with me. I just want my son back and do not want anything else," she said, urging the government to examine the matter.
In the video, the five men said they had travelled to Russia for employment but were deceived into joining its army. They claimed that a Nepali national had promised them food-packing jobs in the military and helped recruit them.
The person claimed that they did not know they had been granted Russian citizenship and learnt about it only after enquiring about their status.
"Whenever we ask about our Indian citizenship, we are told that we are no longer Indian citizens and have become Russians. We want only Indian citizenship and do not want Russian citizenship. Had we known about this, we would never have agreed to it," he said.
He alleged that they had been made to sign documents written in Russian without understanding their contents.
"These could be our last words. We do not know what will happen next, as they are sending us right up to the frontline. We appeal to the Indian government to intervene immediately, save our lives and take us back," he said.
Responding to the appeal, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh expressed concern over the Indians stranded abroad and sought urgent action to facilitate their return.
"Heartbreaking to see the plight of our citizens stranded abroad. I request my office to urgently coordinate with the concerned authorities to assist them and ensure their safe and speedy return home," Lokesh said in a post on X.
Vamsi's mother and the five men have appealed to the Indian authorities to intervene immediately and bring them back safely as they face deployment near the Russia-Ukraine frontline.