The Indian External Affairs Ministry and NoRKA-Roots, the overseas Keralite affairs department, are working to bring back the body of a Keralite man reportedly killed in a drone attack in Donetsk, Ukraine. The process is expected to take at least another week. This incident has brought to light an ongoing irregular channel that recruits young Keralites to the Russian Army.
Following the death, families of three more youths recruited through this channel approached the Kerala government for help in bringing them back. However, when NoRKA-Roots contacted them, they expressed no desire to return.
Ajith Kolassery, CEO of NoRKA-Roots, stated that these youths were recruited by an agent in Thrissur, each paying a fee of ₹2.5 lakh. It is suspected that at least 10 youths from Kerala are currently in Russia, serving as support staff in the war against Ukraine.
Not Deceived, but Informed Choices
Officials highlight that these youths were not tricked but made informed choices, signing agreements with Russian agencies. The steady recruitment despite war deaths and a CBI investigation indicates that the migration is based on positive feedback from those already in Russia.The recruitment is managed by agents in both India and Russia. While the exact number of Indians in the Russian Army is unknown, the Ministry of External Affairs reported that 13 have left and 66 are seeking discharge. Better wages, benefits, citizenship, and positive feedback continue to drive this legal but irregular recruitment.
