Indians have been forcibly enlisted for war against Ukraine, says Durai Vaiko

MDMK MP Durai Vaiko on Friday (August 1, 2025) accused the Russian government of forcibly inducting Indians in the war against Ukraine, stating that their lives were in danger.

“Already 12 Indians have lost their lives in the war, and 16 persons have disappeared,” said Mr. Durai Vaiko, who raised in Parliament the case of Kishor Saravanan, a youth from Cuddalore.

“Kishor Saravanan was forced to undergo military training and was drugged. He may soon be sent to the war front to fight the Ukrainian army. We may lose him in the fighting,” he said.

He pointed out that according to data from the Ministry of External Affairs, 126 Indians were forced to fight in the war. “They went to the country either to study — particularly medicine — or in search of jobs. They were forced to sign citizenship forms and were conscripted. This is official. Unofficially, many more are serving in the Russian Army. They are not just from Tamil Nadu, but from many parts of India,” he said.

Mr. Durai Vaiko said he had brought the issue to the attention of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. “Mr. Misri told me the files have been sent to the Home Ministry,” he said.

The parents of Mr. Saravanan, meanwhile, said like many parents in the country, they had sent their son to Russia to study medicine. “We sold our land and sent him to study… But now, he is being forced to fight in the war,” they said.