Telangana men stuck in Russia
Afzan’s father Abbas Khan said his son left for Russia on Feb 15, leaving behind a son, a daughter and a wife with a disability. State steps in The Sept 29 representation to chief minister A Revanth Reddy followed appeals made by Nizamabad Rural MLA R Bhupathi Reddy, a grievance filed through the ministry of external affairs’ MADAD portal and correspondence with the state govt’s NRI department. Job ads under scrutiny Documents submitted by the families include a recruitment advertisement offering general and mechanical helper jobs in Russia through ‘Pondera Co’ for $477 a month (described in the advertisement at approximately ₹42,000), along with free food. The advertisement promised 10-hour shifts, 28 compulsory working days a month, eligibility for ECR passport holders and stated that no Russian language test was required. It also assured applicants of an offer letter within a week and a visa within 30 to 45 days after medical examinations. His work permit describes him as an industrial pipeline installer and a ‘highly qualified specialist’, valid from Dec 29, 2025, to Dec 28, 2028.
His brother-in-law Laudya Ravi said Prakash remains in a military camp, while two other men from the group have reportedly been moved closer to the frontline. Sunitha said Prakash’s phone had been confiscated and that he feared for his life. “Ever since we heard his voice messages, neither I nor my in-laws and other family members have been able to sleep,” she said. Ravinder’s family said his two sons, Nithin and Arvind, are dependent on him.
Hyderabad: In yet another instance of its kind, four men from Telangana claim they have been duped into joining the Russian army as soldiers to fight against Ukrainian forces in the ongoing war there. Among them is Megavath Sunitha, whose husband Prakash spoke to her only once after reaching a military camp. A farmer, Prakash had informed his family that he was travelling to Russia for work, not realising he would end up on the frontlines. Prakash has two sons and a daughter. In Tadkole village, Mohammed Afzan Khan’s wife Jameela Begum described the emotional strain on the family after receiving his distress messages. CM Pravasi Prajavani in charge Gadwal Vijayalakshmi and nodal officer K Vidyasagar interacted with the families and directed the NRI wing to coordinate with the MEA and the Indian embassy in Moscow. The grievance has been forwarded to the general administration department’s NRI Cell. Family members sought immediate intervention to ensure the safe return of all four men. Separately, Russian documents in the name of Odde Yellaiah of Rajanna Sircilla identify him as an Indian civilian worker employed through Pondera Industry LLC. An FSB-issued pass attached to the documents authorises access to a controlled border area for employment purposes and does not identify him as military personnel.
The families of the four men, who claim they were drawn into Russian military service after accepting civilian job offers, approached CM Pravasi Prajavani in Hyderabad on Tuesday seeking help to be releaded by the Russian army and be repatriated.
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As the families await official intervention, their immediate concern remains the same: Bringing their sons, husbands and fathers back home before the conflict claims them.