Mortal remains of Punjab man who died in Russia-Ukraine war brought back

The mortal remains of a 28-year-old man from Punjab, who lost his life in the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war, have reached his home town Goraya, in Jalandhar, after a wait of over a year.

The man, Mandeep Kumar, was tricked by unscrupulous “travel agents” and later forced to join the Russian army. He died in a drone attack while fighting against Ukraine, his elder brother Jagdeep Kumar claimed on Sunday (January 4, 2025).

Mr. Jagdeep Kumar, who recently returned from Russia after searching for his brother, said the latter’s mortal remains had been brought back. They were received at the Delhi airport on Saturday (January 3).

He travelled to Russia twice to find his brother — in February and October 2025 — returning from his second trip on December 8, after spending almost three months in Russia.

“I came to know about the death of my brother two months back, after my DNA samples given to the Russian authorities matched with one of the bodies," Mr. Jagdeep Kumar told PTI.

Mr. Jagdeep Kumar said Mandeep, along with four others, travelled to Armenia in September 2023. From there, they were supposed to go to Italy. He was promised he would be sent to Italy for work but the “travel agents” took him to Russia instead, and coerced him to join the Russian army, he claimed.

He spoke to his brother for the last time on March 3, 2024, and the call lasted 17-20 seconds, Mr. Jagdeep Kumar said. During the conversation, Mandeep asked to be rescued from Russia.

Mandeep had a congenital defect in his leg, and despite this, he was made to join the army and sent to the war zone, according to Mr. Jagdeep Kumar, who demanded action against the “travel agents” for duping his brother and forcing him to join the Russian army.

He also appealed to the Union Government to take appropriate steps to prevent the recruitment of Indians in the Russian army.

After returning from Russia in December 2025, Mr. Jagdeep Kumar claimed that 10 Indians recruited into the Russian army had died in the war against Ukraine.

Of these, three belonged to Punjab and seven to Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu, he said.

In September 2025, India demanded that Russia end its practice of recruiting Indian nationals as support staff in its military. New Delhi also demanded the release of all the Indians currently serving in the Russian armed forces, following reports of fresh recruitment of Indians by the Russian military. India has also cautioned its nationals against taking up offers to join the Russian military in view of the inherent "risks and dangers" involved.