Srinagar: Two Kashmiri youths identified as Azad Yusuf Kumar from south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh from north Kashmir’s Kupwara were stranded in the Russia-Ukraine war allegedly deceived by a YouTuber promising job opportunities.
According to Azaad’s brother, the youths fell prey to a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by YouTuber Faisal Khan (BABA VLOGS). They were misled with promises of employment, leading them on a journey from Mumbai to Dubai, eventually ending up in Russia under false pretenses.
“He left home in early December 2023, traveled to Mumbai where he met agents named Pooja and Sufiyan. From there, he was sent to Dubai, where he encountered agents sent by Khan, Rameshwar, and Mueen, who provided assistance for 15 days," he said.
He later informed his family that he, along with 12 other Indians, were instructed to sign an agreement written in Russian. When they sought assistance, their requests went unanswered, he added.
Subsequently, they were handed over to the Russian army for 15 days of training, during which he sustained injuries. Despite not being permitted to communicate, he managed to contact us twice a week for 2-3 minutes," he explained.
“And that’s how we came to know about this nexus,” he added.
The whereabouts of another young man, Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh, remain unknown. Employed at a private company in Chandigarh, Zahoor, along with two companions, traveled to Russia in December last year and has since gone “missing.”
The issue was flagged off by a students' body from Jammu and Kashmir stating that the duo was conned into fighting for the Russian army against Ukraine after being promised jobs, urging the government of India to repatriate the duo.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also appealed to authorities, requesting External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs of India to intervene in facilitating the return of Azad Yusuf Kumar from Awantipora, who was forcibly deployed into the Russian army to fight against Ukraine.
“Requesting DR S. Jaishankar and MEA India to intervene in facilitating the return of Azad Yousaf Kumar from Awantipora forcibly deployed into the Russian army to fight against Ukraine. The family is extremely distressed & worried about his safety,” she said in a post on X, formerly twitter.
The General Secretary of JKJSA informed The Himalayan Post that they have submitted an urgent appeal to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, requesting immediate intervention for the repatriation of the two youths from Jammu and Kashmir who are currently trapped in Russia.
Previously, the Ministry of External Affairs advised Indians to "stay away" from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This advisory came after reports emerged suggesting that some Indians had been enlisted for "support jobs" in Russia. Additionally, India has requested Russia for the early release of Indian nationals engaged in such "support jobs" for the Russian army.
Since last year, Russia initiated a video ad campaign promoting military job offers to any nationality.