Malayali Mercenaries Trapped in Ukraine War Zone Plead for Rescue

Five Malayali men, tricked into joining mercenary forces fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, are desperately seeking help to return home. These men, who traveled to Russia in search of work, were deceived into joining the war effort. They claim they were lured by promises of high salaries but were forced to take Russian citizenship and join the military upon arrival. The men, who are stationed in a Russian military camp over 1,200 kilometers from Moscow, live in constant fear as the war continues. The situation became dire after one of their companions, Sandeep Chandran, was killed in a drone attack. The families of the stranded men have reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs, pleading for their rescue. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also written to India’s External Affairs Minister, requesting the repatriation of Sandeep’s remains and the safe return of the stranded men.