HYDERABAD: Mohammed Sufiyan, a native of Telangana, returned home on September 14 after being deceived by an employment agent into working as support staff for the Russian military. Sufiyan, who is 22 and hails from Narayanpet district, had been working with the Russian army in its conflict with Ukraine.
His return ends the distressing uncertainty for his family, who had been concerned for his safety while he was stationed in a war zone. Sufiyan revealed that he was promised a security-related job but was not informed that he would be involved in assisting troops in the conflict.
Initially, he was told that he would undergo three months of training, after which his salary would be increased. Sufiyan had left India in November of the previous year for this role.
In July, Sufiyan's brother, Salman, expressed hope for his return following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia. During the visit, PM Modi raised the issue of Indian nationals working with the Russian military with President Vladimir Putin. As a result, Russia agreed to expedite the release of Indian workers involved in support roles.