SC seeks Centre’s response on plea to bring back Indians allegedly forced into Russia-Ukraine conflict

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Centre’s response on a habeas corpus petition seeking urgent steps to trace and repatriate 26 Indian nationals who are allegedly stranded in Russia and being compelled to participate in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi issued notice to the Union government after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought time to obtain instructions. The Court directed that the matter be listed after one week.

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Appearing for the petitioners, the counsel submitted that there had been “continuous and uninterrupted inaction” by authorities, despite repeated representations. It was contended that the individuals were being forced to fight for a foreign country against their will.

“We are stuck in Russia and being made to fight a war unwillingly,” the counsel told the Court, referring to communications received from the stranded persons.

The petition, filed by family members, states that the 26 individuals had travelled to Russia on valid visas after being promised legitimate employment by recruitment agents. However, upon arrival, their passports were allegedly seized, their movement restricted, and they were coerced into joining military operations linked to the Russian armed forces.

According to the plea, the last known communications — mostly between September and October 2025 — indicated that they had been deployed in or around active conflict zones such as Kupyansk, Selydove, Makiivka, and Chelyabinsk. In several cases, families have since lost all contact and remain unaware of their present condition.

The petition alleges that despite approaching the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Moscow, the Ministry of Home Affairs and State authorities, no effective intervention has been made so far.

The petition contends that the State has a continuing obligation to protect the life and liberty of Indian citizens, even outside India, particularly when they are unable to secure their own safety.

The petitioners have sought directions to the Centre to take immediate diplomatic steps through the Indian Embassy in Russia to establish contact, ensure consular access, verify their condition, and facilitate their safe return to India.

They have also sought an investigation into alleged recruitment networks that lure Indian citizens abroad under false promises and expose them to grave risks.