India warns against joining Russian forces after giving up citizenship

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has renewed its warning against Indian nationals joining the Russian armed forces, cautioning that people who give up Indian citizenship and obtain Russian passports to enlist face mortal danger and may make government assistance more difficult. The advisory, shared by ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, urges people to avoid overseas military recruitment offers from unverified agents. It says the ministry has encountered individuals seeking to renounce Indian citizenship and obtain Russian passports before joining Russian forces, sometimes without consulting Indian authorities and in pursuit of temporary monetary benefits. The advisory does not give a total number of people involved. The ministry also warned that foreign nationals are being recruited by private entities, including voluntary groups. It advised Indian job seekers to check that recruitment agencies are registered with the ministry before accepting offers. The warning follows repeated government advisories over the past two years about risks associated with overseas job opportunities and recruitment through unverified channels.