Paid for jobs, pushed towards war: Telangana’s Russia recruitment trail raises fresh questions | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: For dozens of families in Telangana, a promise of jobs in Russia has turned into a desperate fight to bring their men home. Two years after national agencies cracked down on recruitment rackets, questions remain over how men seeking civilian work ended up in military camps and near conflict zones, and who profited from their journey.The latest rescue appeals relate to four men from the Nizamabad-Kamareddy region: Bhookya Ravinder (44), Sirushu Ashok (44), Megavath Prakash (40) and Mohammed Afzal Khan (43). Their families allege that an agent identified as Thelu Krishna, linked to Domakonda and reportedly operating from Russia, lured them with promises of civilian jobs in sectors such as the oil industry and security services.The men travelled to Russia around Feb after their families reportedly paid nearly ₹3 lakh each. Despite repeated complaints, no major action has so far been reported against the alleged recruitment network in Telangana.Migrant rights activist Gangula Muralidhar Reddy said workers were often charged ₹2.75 lakh, excluding visa, ticket and medical costs, for jobs such as cleaning and grass-cutting. He alleged that many recruitments bypassed the govt’s eMigrate system and involved workers from both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.Muralidhar told TOI: “Some workers borrowed to migrate, while others had previously tried working in Dubai without success. Low civilian wages could leave them susceptible to military offers.” He described inducements involving initial payment of ₹8 lakh, an advance of ₹4 lakh and citizenship, with agents also receiving money.Earlier cases reveal different recruitment routes leading to similar outcomes. Hyderabad resident Mohammed Afsan responded to a YouTube advertisement promising helper work and the prospect of permanent residency. His family said intermediaries collected about ₹3.5 lakh before he travelled to Moscow via Sharjah. The Indian embassy later confirmed his death in March 2024.Similarly, Mohammed Ahmed from Khairatabad travelled through a Mumbai-based consultancy in April 2025 for what he believed was a construction job. He later recounted undergoing weapons training and avoiding deployment only after jumping from a military vehicle, an escape that left him with a fractured leg. He returned home in Dec 2025.The recurring accounts have intensified calls for accountability and raised questions over whether local agents are linked to recruiters operating abroad and how recruitment payments are shared.Muralidhar Reddy said: “Amnesty International’s Sept 10, 2026, briefing said deceptive and coercive recruitment of foreign nationals into Russia’s military amounted, in many cases, to human trafficking.”Families seeking help must navigate a complex process involving state authorities, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and the Indian embassy, while the final decision on discharge rests with Russian authorities.Providing a broader picture, the MEA stated on Aug 31 that 227 Indians had been recruited into the Russian military, 139 had been discharged and 51 had died.Nizamabad police commissioner Sai Chaitanya told TOI: “Prakash’s family filed a complaint against the agents, and we will examine the complaint. Initially these workers went on a proper contract but after the contract ended, they took up other works by contacting agents in Russia.” He urged people to use only registered recruitment agencies and official MEA channels for overseas employment.The dangers are not limited to those allegedly drawn into military service. Vavilala Sudarshan Goud (42), a construction worker from Jagtial, was killed in a Russian missile strike in Ukraine on Sept 1, about four months after taking up civilian employment there. Another Telangana worker, Ganesh Kalleda (35), was injured in the same attack.Mandha Bheem Reddy, vice-chairperson of the Telangana govt‘s NRI advisory committee, said: “Overseas labour trafficking can be prevented through sustained awareness and preventive measures. Awareness programmes should be conducted across all districts, particularly in North Telangana, where migration to the Gulf countries and other destinations is relatively high.”He said the large number of Indians caught in the Russian military conflict highlighted the urgent need for stronger safeguards, awareness campaigns and action against fraudulent overseas recruitment networks.