Ajay Godara, 22, who hailed from Rajasthan, had gone to Russia last year on student visa.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Bodies of two Indians killed in the Russia-Ukraine war zone arrived at the Delhi airport on Wednesday (December 17, 2025). Since September, at least four Indians have been killed in the war zone and 59 others are missing.
The deceased have been identified as Ajay Godara (22), a resident of Rajasthan, and Rakesh Kumar (30) from Uttarakhand. Both Godara and Kumar had gone to Russia in the past one year on student visa but were allegedly enlisted in the Russian Army after being misled by agents who promised them work as cleaners and helpers.
On December 3, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s State visit to India, Lok Sabha member from Nagaur, Rajasthan, Hanuman Beniwal raised the issue of safe return of 61 Indians allegedly enlisted in the Russian Army to participate in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Prakash Godara, a cousin of Ajay Godara, told The Hindu that they received a call from the Indian Embassy in Moscow on December 9 informing them about the death.
“We were told on December 9 that Ajay has been killed in Russia. He last spoke to his family on September 21. Since then, there was no communication with him. Before going incommunicado, he had sent a video pleading for help. He said they were being forcibly sent to the war zone,” Mr. Prakash Godara said.
The family took the body to Bikaner in Rajasthan where he was cremated on Wednesday evening. He is survived by his parents and a sister. The death certificate issued by Russia states that he died “during active military service.”
Godara’s family was among scores of people from across the country who protested at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar twice seeking government’s intervention.
The family had met Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, also a local MP, several times and had raised the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Pankaj Kumar, a friend of the other deceased, Rakesh Kumar, said the family got to know about the death five days ago.
“The family was told that he died in the Donbas area. He last spoke to them on August 30. We received the body at the Delhi airport today,” Mr. Pankaj Kumar said.
The Hindu reported on September 10 that Indians continued to be enlisted in the Russian Army despite an assurance by Moscow in 2024 that it no longer admits Indians.
On September 11, the MEA said it had taken up the matter with the Russian authorities, both in Delhi and Moscow, asking that “this practice be ended and that our nationals be released.”
In 2024, after India strongly raised the issue, the Russian Embassy said in a statement on August 10, 2024 that it no longer admits Indians into its Army, adding it was working in “close coordination” with the Indian authorities to help discharge Indian nationals recruited for the war in Ukraine. The two countries have been at war since February 24, 2022.
The MEA has issued several warnings and advisories cautioning Indians from falling prey to such jobs.
On November 8, MEA spokesperson said there were 44 Indian nationals presently serving in the Russian Army.
Published – December 18, 2025 12:21 am IST
