Body of Punjab man, who was forced to join the Russian Army, reaches home one year after death

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The body of 28-year-old Mandeep Kumar, a resident of Punjab who was allegedly lured into joining the Russian military, has finally been brought back to Goraya in Jalandhar, bringing an end to more than a year of uncertainty for his family, The Times of India reported.

Mandeep was killed in a drone strike during the Russia-Ukraine war, after being duped by travel agents who had assured him of a job in Italy but instead pushed him into military service in Russia.

His elder brother Jagdeep Kumar said the family received Mandeep’s mortal remains at the Delhi airport on Saturday. Confirmation of his death came only two months ago, when Jagdeep’s DNA samples matched with one of the unidentified bodies in Russia.

“I came to know about the death of my brother two months back after my DNA samples given to the Russian authorities matched with one of the bodies,” Jagdeep told PTI.

The ordeal began in September 2023, when Mandeep and four others travelled to Armenia after being promised employment in Italy. Instead of being taken to Europe, they were allegedly moved to Russia and coerced into enlisting in the army. Mandeep was later sent to the conflict zone, where he was killed.

Jagdeep said he made two frantic journeys to Russia, first in February and then in October 2025, spending nearly three months in total trying to trace his brother. The family last heard from Mandeep on March 3, 2024, during a brief phone call that lasted 17 to 20 seconds, in which he pleaded for help and asked to be rescued.

The family said Mandeep suffered from a congenital defect in his leg, yet was still forced into combat duty. Jagdeep also claimed that ten Indian nationals have died while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, including three from Punjab and seven from Uttar Pradesh and Jammu.

Jagdeep is now seeking strict action against the travel agents who allegedly deceived his brother. In response to similar incidents, India had, in September last year, urged Russia to stop recruiting Indian citizens as military support staff.

The government has also issued repeated advisories warning Indians against joining the Russian armed forces and has sought the release of all Indian nationals currently serving in Russia’s military.