‘I was tricked into joining Russia’s war in Ukraine’

Last December, Azad Yusuf Kumar got what he thought was the opportunity of a lifetime.

The 27-year-old graduate from Pulwama in Indian-administered Kashmir had applied for a job he hoped would change his and his family’s destiny.

Instead he took him to the front lines. war in europeand left physical scars and emotional scars that he still suffers from.

His ordeal began last year. Although Mr. Kumar had a degree in commerce, he was struggling to make ends meet in his village of Poshwan in Kashmir, where unemployment is highest. India. Working for his father as a tube well digger, he earned just £4 a day, or about £24 in a working week. Burdened with providing for his wife and young child, Mr. Kumar started looking for job opportunities abroad in the hope of a better life.

He thought he might have found it when he came across a YouTube channel called Baba Vlogs., It is run by Faisal Khan, an Indian expatriate based in Dubai. The channel advertised job openings Russia It promises a salary of £470 a month for the first three months, including work as a kitchen helper, rising to £940 a month thereafter. For Mr. Kumar, the prospect of earning 10 times his income seemed like a lifeline.

Encouraged by the positive comments and evaluations on the channel, he took a step. On December 14, 2023, Mr. Kumar left his home and flew from Srinagar to Mumbai, where he met two agents linked to Faisal Khan. They assured him of his safety and the legitimacy of the job, which they claimed was in a safe zone in Russia. By December 18, Mr. Kumar had reached the Russian capital; This was the beginning of a life-changing ordeal.

Once they arrived in Moscow, Mr Kumar and five other men from India were transported to an undisclosed location 400 kilometers away. They were allowed to rest briefly before being given a long contract written in Russian. The group was given only two minutes to sign. Unaware of the contents of the document, Mr. Kumar only later discovered that he had unknowingly joined the Russian army and would go to war in Russia. Ukrainian.

Shortly after, Ukraine, where Russia was located, was brought 800 km closer to the front line. I’m sending waves of soldiers It participated in the war against Ukrainian forces and was integrated into an air force regiment. His commander, who was Russian, was using a translation app on his phone to communicate with him and other foreign soldiers who spoke no Russian.

Mr Kumar’s training lasted just a week, focusing on first aid, survival skills and basic weapons use. However, a setback on the fourth day of training changed his course. While training with his AK-74 rifle, he accidentally fired the gun into his foot. Although the injury initially seemed minor, it left him unable to perform physically demanding tasks.

His injury drove him to dig ditches, dugouts and pits near what he believed to be the small settlement of Krynky in southern Ukraine. Here he was exposed to relentless artillery fire, endured severe deprivations, and witnessed the deaths of his comrades. “I saw members of my own group die before my eyes,” he recounted. “The sounds of bullets and bombs were constant. “We mostly survived on raw noodles, with only proper meals served every five days.”

The psychological toll on Mr. Kumar was enormous. Trapped in a war zone far from home, the risks of escaping a conflict-torn area were too great and his base in Ukraine was heavily guarded. Legally stuck, his contract is still valid for another four months.

Contact with his family in Kashmir was sporadic. His relatives made frantic attempts to secure his release by appealing to Indian and Russian authorities, but their pleas often went unanswered or received delayed responses. “The embassies would tell us they were working on it,” his family said. “They even suggested contacting the regiment commander to request his release.”

Mr Kumar’s ordeal ended only after months of effort diplomatic engagement. During his official visit to Russia in July, the Indian prime minister said Narendra ModiHe personally raised the issue of Indian citizens trapped in the Russian armed forces, stressing the urgency of their release.

In September, Mr. Kumar was allowed to leave Ukraine and returned to India on the 13th of that month. When he arrived in Delhi, Indian authorities subjected him to extensive interrogation regarding his journey, how he had been misled, the nature of his work, and the promises made to him.

Although Mr Kumar earned between £6,600 and £7,550 for his five months’ service, payments for the remaining three months are still pending. And despite this financial compensation, the experience left him with lasting trauma. “I told my mother this morning that I dreamed I was back on the battlefield in Ukraine, wearing the same uniform and holding the same gun. “I woke up shaking,” he said.

Mr. Kumar’s return to his family’s village in Kashmir has since brought new struggles. Stigmatized by his ordeal, the man now works in his family’s rice paddies and apple orchards and cannot find stable employment. “It took me months to accept that I was home,” she said. “But my family still lives in fear. “They don’t even let me visit the local market.”

Mr. Kumar is not alone in this difficult time. At least 13 Indian men returned from similar situations and were forced or deceived into fighting for the Russian army. According to the Indian government, 66 people still want early discharge. The true extent of the problem remains unclear, but the case highlights a disturbing trend: Vulnerable individuals are being exploited for military purposes in foreign conflicts.

The disappearance of Baba Vlogs and its owner Faisal Khan adds another layer of complexity to the case. The deletion of the YouTube channel and related social media accounts makes it difficult to hold those responsible accountable.

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Mr. Kumar’s story also underscores the economic desperation that drives individuals to take such risks. Opportunities for youth remain limited, with the unemployment rate in Kashmir standing at 23.1 percent in early 2023 (among the highest in India). The promise of finding a job abroad, no matter how dubious, is often seen as the only way out.

The case also raises questions about oversight of hiring practices and protections afforded to Indian citizens working abroad. Mr. Kumar’s journey from hope to horror is a stark reminder of the human cost of poverty and exploitation.

The war may be over for Mr. Kumar, but the battle to rebuild his life has only just begun. As he reflects on his experience, his story stands as a cautionary tale for others. Without systematic reforms to eliminate unemployment and protect migrant workers, many more may find themselves trapped in similar dire conditions.