A 25-year-old man from Moga district, Punjab, Boota Singh, who went to Moscow on a student visa in October 2024, has reportedly been captured by Russian forces and coerced into military service amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Singh had been working as a labourer in Moscow before being detained on August 18, 2025.
In a video message, Singh stated that he and around 14 other students from Punjab and Haryana were being sent to the battlefield without prior military training. Five to six of them are reported missing after deployment. Singh’s last contact with his family was via WhatsApp on September 12, and authorities have since lost communication with him.
His family has appealed to the Indian government for intervention. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has raised the issue with Russian authorities and cautioned Indian citizens against joining the Russian army, citing the extreme risks involved.