A 23-year-old man from Jammu, lured by the promise of a lucrative overseas job, has died after allegedly being forced into the Russia-Ukraine war, spotlighting a disturbing pattern of Indian nationals being duped into combat roles under false pretences.

Sachin Khajuria, a resident of Pahariwalla village in Akhnoor, had travelled to Russia in August 2025, hoping to secure employment that would support his family. Instead, within weeks of his arrival, he found himself pushed towards the frontlines of an active conflict, in what his family describes as a calculated deception by recruitment agents.

His mortal remains reached his village on Sunday, months after his suspected death in September last year, bringing a tragic end to a prolonged period of uncertainty for his family.

Promises Of Prosperity, Reality Of War

According to family members, Sachin had received an offer for what was described as a civilian construction job in Russia. The package appeared unusually attractive: a one-time payment of Rs 20 lakh, a monthly salary of Rs 2.5 lakh, and additional benefits. Similar offers were reportedly extended to other youths from the Jammu region, including Sumeet Sharma and Atul Sharma.

Sachin left India on August 4, 2025, on a study visa, a route often used in such cases. Within weeks, however, the narrative began to unravel. On September 13, he made a distressing WhatsApp call to his family, informing them that he was being sent to the frontlines in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

That call was the last contact his family ever had with him.

His phone soon became unreachable. As days turned into months, concern grew into fear. By December, Sachin’s family, along with those of other missing youths, approached authorities, alleging that their sons had been duped by agents and forcibly recruited into the Russian military.

They also escalated the matter to Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Jammu and Kashmir cabinet minister Satish Sharma, seeking intervention at the highest levels.

A Long Wait For Closure

The family’s worst fears were confirmed earlier this year when authorities requested DNA samples to verify a recovered body. Sachin’s younger brother provided the sample, and around ten days ago, officials confirmed his death.

Sources indicated that the body could not be retrieved immediately due to ongoing hostilities in the region. It was recovered weeks later in a decomposed state, chemically preserved, and eventually repatriated to India.

His cremation on Sunday was marked by an outpouring of grief in his village, where residents gathered to mourn a young life lost far from home under tragic circumstances.

Sachin is the second person from Jammu to have died under similar conditions. In February last year, the body of 24-year-old Manjinder Singh from Gowana village in the R S Pura sector was repatriated. Singh had travelled to Russia in December 2024 on a student visa, intending to pursue higher education while working part-time.

Instead, he too ended up in the war zone.

Growing Concern Over Recruitment Rackets

The case has reignited concerns over organised networks that allegedly lure Indian youths with promises of high-paying jobs abroad, only to funnel them into conflict zones.

The Ministry of External Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha in December 2025 that at least 202 Indian nationals are believed to have been recruited into the Russian armed forces since 2022, with 26 confirmed deaths so far.

The government has cautioned citizens against accepting overseas job offers linked to conflict zones and stated that it has taken up the issue with Russian authorities. However, the recurrence of such cases suggests that enforcement and awareness gaps persist.

For families like Sachin’s, the warnings come too late. What began as a hopeful journey for a better future has ended in irreversible loss, underscoring the human cost of deceptive recruitment practices in times of global conflict.

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