Indian Man Forced to Fight for Russia Dies in Ukraine Conflict

Kerala native Binil Babu, misled by false job promises, dies in war; Indian government seeks repatriation of injured relative and other nationals.

Binil Babu, a 32-year-old from Kerala, died after being forced to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, having been misled by false job offers in April 2024.
Another Indian national, Jain TK, who was injured in the conflict, is recovering in a Moscow hospital; efforts are underway to bring him back to India.
The Indian government has strongly urged Russia to release and repatriate all Indian nationals trapped in similar circumstances, following multiple such incidents.
Binil and Jain were initially assigned non-combat roles but were later sent to the frontlines with minimal training and resources, according to their families.
This marks at least the ninth death of an Indian national in the Russian Army since 2024, raising concerns over the exploitation of foreign workers in conflict zones.