Lured by food-packing jobs, 5 Andhra youths ’recruited’ into Russian military

Mangalore Today News Network

Vishakhapatnam, Nov 3, 2026: Five youngsters from Visakhapatnam and Chodavaram in Anakapalli district have allegedly been trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war after being taken to Russia on the promise of jobs and forced to join the Russian army. 

A video appeal by two of them, seeking help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Andhra Pradesh government, went viral in the state and drew the attention of IT minister Nara Lokesh.

In the video, J. Vamsi, 19, a resident of the Duvvada area in Visakhapatnam, and his friend Sateesh are seen wearing military combat uniforms and appealing for urgent intervention by the Indian government to secure their return. 

Vamsi said they had been lured to Russia with the promise of jobs in food packing for the Russian army but were instead made to join the military amid the ongoing war. 

“Three others were sent to the frontline nearly two months ago, but their whereabouts remain unknown, raising serious concerns about their safety,’’ he added.

Vamsi said they feared they could also be deployed to the frontline soon and that the video might be their last message. 

He said they had travelled to Russia for work, where they met a person from Nepal who introduced himself and arranged their recruitment, claiming that the jobs involved food packing for the army. However, after joining, they realised they were being sent to the Russia-Ukraine border, he said.

“We unknowingly accepted Russian citizenship after being made to sign Russian-language documents. We don’t know this would mean relinquishing Indian citizenship. Whenever we asked to return to India, we were told that we were no longer Indian citizens but Russians. We are seeking restoration of Indian citizenship and safe return to India, Vamsi pleaded. 

Vamsi’s widowed mother, Appala Konda, was distressed after learning that her son was in a war zone in Russia. 

Responding to the video, Lokesh posted on X that he had directed his office to urgently coordinate with the authorities to assist the Visakhapatnam youngsters stranded abroad and ensure their safe and speedy return.