A grieving father in Haryana is waiting for his son’s body to return from Russia—months after the young man left home with hopes of building a better future. Rakesh Kumar, an employee of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, had sent his 25-year-old son Anshu to Russia on a study visa. Instead of pursuing education, Anshu lost his life in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War after allegedly being misled into joining the Russian Army.
Anshu, a resident of a village in Rewari district, had travelled to Russia on April 20, 2025. According to his father, he was initially sent for training and later forcibly enlisted. The family had spent around ₹6 lakh to send him abroad, hoping he would improve their financial condition.
Rakesh said he received a call on April 4 from a former soldier who informed him about Anshu’s death. He was told the body was yet to reach Moscow from the frontlines and would take another 10–15 days to be repatriated to India. The family had lost contact with Anshu in November last year.
He alleged that his son, like several other youths from Haryana, was lured by agents with promises of well-paying jobs. Instead, they were reportedly deceived and pushed into the conflict. Anshu’s case is not isolated. In recent weeks, the bodies of three more youths from Haryana—belonging to Karnal, Fatehabad and Sonipat districts—have been brought back after they were killed in similar circumstances.
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Anuj Sharma (23), from Karnal district, had also gone to Russia in May 2025 on a study visa for a language course. His brother Arjun Sharma said Anuj was promised lucrative work by local agents, but was later coerced into joining the army and sent to the frontlines. The family lost contact with him in October 2025 and was later informed that he had sustained bullet injuries. His body was returned on March 26, and his last rites were performed in his village.
Similarly, Ankit Jangra (24) from Fatehabad district had travelled to Moscow for a language course but was allegedly misled into signing documents in Russian and forced into military service. During a video call months before his death, he had told his family that several Indians were trapped in similar conditions. His body was brought back earlier this month.
Another victim, Ankit (30) from Sonipat district, had moved to Russia nearly a year ago and was the sole breadwinner of his family. His body was repatriated in April 2026 after he was killed in the conflict.
Families of such youths had staged protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in November and December last year, demanding government intervention and the safe return of those still stranded. Social worker Jai Bhagwan, associated with Gram Vikas Samiti, has been assisting affected families and raising awareness about the issue.
He said the problem is not limited to Haryana, as youths from Punjab and other states have also reportedly fallen victim to similar schemes.
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