New Delhi: The recent death of 22-year-old Ravi Moun from Haryana on the Russian battlefront has intensified concerns over the alleged coercion of Indian youths into the Russian military under deceptive pretexts. This incident, marking the fifth such fatality among Indian nationals, underscores a disturbing trend of recruitment scams that have misled numerous young men from India into dangerous war zones.

According to Kashmir Media Service, reports by the Indian news outlet The Wire have brought attention to the broader issue of approximately 100 youths—primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and other states like Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala—being duped into joining the Russian military. These individuals were reportedly recruited by fraudulent agents with promises of civilian roles within the Russian Army, only to be forced into active combat.

The story of Ravi Moun, a native of Matour village in Kaithal district, highlights the tragic consequences of these scams. His family, having paid Rs 11 lakh for what they believed was a job opportunity involving logistics work for the Russian military, was devastated to learn of his death through an official notification from the Indian Embassy in Moscow. As per Ravi’s cousin, Sonu Matour, the young man was last in contact with his family on March 12 before being unwittingly sent to the front lines.

The ongoing plight of these misled young men has not only caused anguish among their families but also raised significant concerns about the lack of effective intervention by the Indian government. The apparent governmental inaction and failure to address these recruitment scams or assist the affected families have been sharply criticized, calling for urgent measures to prevent further exploitation and loss of life.