A Russian army soldier walks along a ruined street of Malaya Loknya settlement, which was recently retaken by Russia's armed forces in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Kursk region
Credit: Reuters Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: A Malayali youth recovering from serious injuries caused while waging war against Ukraine after being trapped in the Russian mercenary is pleading for help as he fears that he will be taken back to the war zone soon.
In a SOS message, the youth, Thrissur native Jain Kurian, 27, pleads for help from the Indian government.
Jain says in the video message that he was fearing that the Russian army will forcefully take him back to the war zone and it will put his life in danger again. He urges Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian embassy officials in Russia to take immediate steps for his safe return to India.
Kurian told DH in an audio message that even as the Indian embassy officials have been keeping on assuring that they would ensure his safe return, so far nothing happened.
Kurian's family consisting of father, mother and brother are also pleading with the authorities to facilitate his safe return.
Kurian's relative Binil Babu, 32, hailing from Thrissur, was reported killed in the Russia-Ukraine warzone on January 4. However, even his mortal remains were not yet handed over to the relatives despite constant pleas. Another Thrissur native Sandeep was earlier killed in the warzone and his body was handed over to relatives.
Several youths from India were made to forcefully join the Russian mercenary after being illegally recruited to Russia by offering other jobs with attractive remuneration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had even taken up the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his talks last year and Putin reportedly responded positively. Even then many like Jain were stranded in Russia.
Babu and Kurian went to Russia in 2024 April through an agent who offered the job of providing support systems to the Russian mercenary. But later they were forced to wage the war against Ukraine that too without any training.
Kurian had spotted Babu's body in the war zone on January 6. Later Kurian suffered serious leg injuries in the war and was shifted to hospital in Moscow.