Telugu Men Tied To Trees For Trying To Escape Russia War

Several Indians in Russia have been forced to join the army and take part in the ongoing military conflict with Ukraine. Now, four Telugu men from Nizamabad district from Telangana are reportedly trapped in the same unfortunate circumstances.

The victims identified as Bhukya Ravinder, Bhukya Ashok, Megavath Prakash, and Mohammed Afzal Khan went to Russia around February 2026 on job purpose. Fraud agents collected around 3 lakh rupees from each person promising peaceful civilian helper jobs, cleaning work, and security positions in oil companies.

However after reaching there, the victims did not receive promised monthly salaries for months. Fraudulent agents and military personnel later pushed them into joining Russian military service on false promises of non-combat work.

When the men refused to go to fight the war, Russian officers reportedly threatened them to kill. Reports revealed that when they tried to escape from camps, officers tied them to trees to prevent them from escaping. They were then forced to join the frontline war zone.

The trapped men then released distressing videos and appealed to the government of India. Back home in Telangana, heartbroken family members approached local political leaders and state government offices for urgent help.

Nizamabad Rural MLA Dr R Bhupathi Reddy met Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and submitted official letter requesting immediate intervention.

Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that more than 200 Indians were forced to join the Russian military since the start of Ukraine war and around 50 of them died. More than 100 have been repatriated through diplomatic efforts with the Russian government.