Jammu man lured into Russian job and sent to war zone killed

JAMMU: On Sept 13, 2025, a 23-year-old Jammu man, who had travelled to Russia a small implicit a period agone with dreams to onshore a job, made a WhatsApp telephone to his family, informing them that helium was being sent to the frontlines successful the Russia-Ukraine war, and pleading for help.

That was the past clip Sachin Khajuria’s household heard from him.Believed to person been killed successful Sept past year, Sachin was cremated amid an outpouring of grief successful his village, Pahariwalla successful Akhnoor, connected Sunday, aft his mortal remains arrived earlier successful the day.He is the 2nd idiosyncratic from Jammu to person died successful the Russia-Ukraine war. In Feb past year, the assemblage of 24-year-old Manjinder Singh from Gowana colony successful the R S Pura assemblage of Jammu, had been repatriated nether akin circumstances.

Singh had travelled to Russia successful Dec 2024 connected a pupil visa, with the purpose of pursuing higher acquisition and besides moving to enactment his household financially.Sachin and 2 different youths from Jammu district, Sumeet Sharma and Atul Sharma, had reportedly travelled to Russia past twelvemonth aft receiving connection letters for what were projected arsenic civilian operation jobs, including bunker-related work. According to their families, the offers promised a one-time outgo of Rs 20 lakh, a monthly wage of Rs 2.5 lakh, and different benefits.

Sachin had flown to Russia connected Aug 4, 2025, connected a survey visa. His member Koushal Khajuria said his telephone was switched disconnected aft the household past spoke to him successful Sept.In Dec, the families of Sachin and Sumeet approached the authorities saying they had nary accusation astir their sons’ whereabouts since Sept, and alleged that the youths were duped by agents who promised lucrative civilian jobs successful Russia, but were alternatively forced into the Russian service and successful the warfare zone.

They besides met Union curate Dr Jitendra Singh and J&K furniture Minister Satish Sharma, to instrumentality up matters astatine a higher level.Subsequently, the household received an email requesting humor samples for DNA tests. His younger member Koushal sent his humor sample, and the authorities confirmed Sachin’s decease astir 10 days ago.According to sources, the household was informed that the assemblage could not beryllium recovered instantly owed to ongoing hostilities, and was retrieved weeks aboriginal successful a decomposed authorities earlier being chemically preserved and repatriated.The ministry of outer affairs (MEA) had informed the Rajya Sabha connected Dec 18, 2025, that 202 Indian nationals are believed to person been recruited into the Russian equipped forces since 2022, with 26 deaths reported. The MEA advised Indians to debar overseas occupation offers linked to struggle zones, portion stating that the substance of Indians recruited for combat operations done fake occupation offers had been taken up with Russian authorities.