By: Express News ServiceChandigarh | October 7, 2025 01:29 PM IST 5 min readDuring his stay, his family claimed, he was ‘tricked’ into joining the Russian army as a cook.After two men from Haryana’s Fatehabad were reported to have been trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war zone, one more family from the state has come forward claiming that their son was allegedly lured into joining the Russian Army, along with two others from Ambala and Sonipat.The family of Sandeep, 29, from Jethpur (Taimurpur) village in Rohtak, said he sent them a video informing them of his situation and pleading to be rescued. Sandeep had travelled to Russia along with youths from Sonipat, Ambala, and Uttar Pradesh. He went on a study visa on September 23, 2024, and was working part-time at a restaurant while studying. During his stay, his family claimed, he was ‘tricked’ into joining the Russian army as a cook. Soon after, he was handed weapons.‘Paid Rs 6 lakh to agent’His maternal uncle, Shribhagwan, told media persons that they had paid Rs 6 lakh to an agent from Charkhi Dadri to send Sandeep abroad. “Initially, he worked at a restaurant in Russia, but now the army has handed him weapons and sent him to occupied Ukrainian territory — just 2.5 km from the city,” Shribhagwan said.Story continues below this adSandeep’s father, Bakshe Ram, added, “Our family is financially very weak. Sandeep is the youngest of five siblings. He has completed his BA degree. One of his brothers is a hairdresser in Jhajjar, another works in Gurgaon. One sister is divorced, while another sister is married. The family was hoping that sending him abroad will improve our financial situation. We took a loan to send him to Russia.”“Our family is going through a terrible situation. We sold all our jewellery and borrowed money to pay around Rs 6 lakh to an agent to send Sandeep to Russia. Since then, he hasn’t been able to send even a rupee back. The house is now in a dilapidated condition,” the father added.‘Non-Russians sent out on patrol at night’His sister Saroj said he informed them over a video call that their group was not even allowed to light fires. “They are given only one meal of porridge per day. He fears being attacked during night patrols. He spends the day in a bunker, and at night, non-Russian recruits are sent out on patrol. He begged us to bring him back home somehow,” she said.Shribhagwan said they have written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Embassy, and the Prime Minister’s Office requesting to bring Sandeep back. They also met BJP national secretary Omprakash Dhankar, who forwarded their letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The family is pleading with the government to help bring their son back.Story continues below this adBakshe Ram said multiple surgeries have rendered him unable to work. Sandeep’s mother has also undergone surgery. They had pinned their hopes on him, but now he too is trapped. They are urging the Indian government to contact Russian authorities and help bring their son home.A man from Ambala and another from Sonipat too have been trapped in the war zone, Sandeep’s family said, but their details are yet to be ascertained.Earlier, the families of Ankit Jangra and Vijay Poonia of Kumharia village in Fatehabad alleged that they were forcibly recruited into the Russian army. The two were sent to the warzone, following which their families have lost contact with them for over three weeks now.‘10 days of training, then pushed to frontlines’Fatehabad native Ramesh, who returned from Russia, revealed that a network is “actively recruiting youth into the Russian army” using monetary temptations. “They give 10 days of basic weapons training, then send them to the frontlines with the harsh choice – kill or be killed,” he said.Story continues below this adRamesh added that this network is not limited to Indians. “They are targeting young men from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan as well. They promise a luxurious life and high salaries. Youths from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan often resist because they understand the Russian language. But Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans fall into the trap easily,” he added.The families of Jangra and Poonia now see a ray of hope after the MEA released a list of 27 Indian youths forcibly recruited into the Russian army and sent to fight in the Ukraine war. Their names are on the list, and the government is now in talks with the Russian authorities to bring them back home.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Rohtak