Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Families Say Three UP Men Were Forced Into Russian Army
Three young men from Uttar Pradesh went to Russia to study.
Their families say the men were living together in Moscow.
In July, the men reportedly called home and said their passports had been taken away.
They also said they were being pressured or forced to join the Russian Army.
After those calls, their families could not reach them.
The families have asked Indian and local officials for help.
One local official said a letter had been sent to the Union Home Ministry.
Another official said he needed to check the documents before taking action.
The families want the men brought safely back to India.
Families of three Uttar Pradesh youths say Russian authorities seized their passports and forced them into military training.
Himanshu Sharma, Shakti Punder and Ashu Kumar have reportedly been unreachable since their last calls in July.
The youths had travelled to Russia on study visas and were staying together in Moscow.
Their families have sought help from district officials and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
A Muzaffarnagar official said a letter was sent to the Union Home Ministry, while a Shamli official said he would review the documents.
- Who
- Himanshu Sharma, Shakti Punder and Ashu Kumar, three youths from western Uttar Pradesh, according to their families.
- What
- The families claim Russian authorities confiscated the youths’ passports and forced them into military training or the Russian Army.
- When
- The youths last spoke with their families in July; the two Muzaffarnagar youths were due to return in August after their one-year visas expired.
- Where
- The youths were staying in Moscow, Russia; Himanshu and Shakti are from Muzaffarnagar and Ashu is from Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Their families say the youths were taken for military training against their wishes and are seeking government assistance to bring them home.
Families’ claims
Officials’ stated position
What happened to the youths
Families’ claims
The families say Russian authorities seized the youths’ passports and took them for arms training or forced military service.
Officials’ stated position
The reported official responses in the article do not confirm the claim; officials said they were sending or reviewing documents.
Government response
Families’ claims
The families say they contacted district administrations, the Ministry of External Affairs and other authorities but had not received information about the youths.
Officials’ stated position
A Muzaffarnagar naib tehsildar said a letter had been sent to the Union Home Ministry, while the Shamli SDM said he needed to examine the documents.
- People involved
- Himanshu Sharma, Shakti Punder and Ashu Kumar
- Origin
- Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts, Uttar Pradesh
- Destination
- Moscow, Russia
- Last contact
- July
- Reported passport seizure
- The families say Russian authorities confiscated the youths’ passports.
- Recruitment claim
- The families say the youths were pressured or forced to join the Russian Army.
- Reported payment
- Shakti’s father said a Shamli-based agent charged Rs 3.5 lakh from each youth.