New Delhi: Mohammed Asfan, a 30-year-old from Hyderabad, has tragically lost his life while reportedly fighting for the Russian Army in Ukraine, after being misled with a job offer. The Indian Embassy in Moscow, through a post on X on Wednesday, acknowledged Asfan's death without specifying how he ended up in the conflict or the exact cause of his demise. The embassy stated, "We are in touch with Asfan's family and Russian authorities. Efforts are underway to repatriate his mortal remains to India."

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed on Friday that Asfan was one of approximately two dozen Indian men deceived into joining the Russian military. During a weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced, "We have addressed this issue with the Russian government, seeking the early discharge of Indian nationals involved. Furthermore, strong measures have been taken against the agents responsible for recruiting them under false pretenses."

Jaiswal emphasized the commitment to secure the release of Indian nationals employed as support staff within the Russian army, facilitating their return to India. Additionally, he disclosed that a human trafficking case has been registered against those involved in operating the recruitment network across various Indian cities, highlighting the government's efforts to dismantle the trafficking scheme.