A 30-year-old physically challenged youth from Goraya in Punjab has allegedly died while fighting for Russia in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict, with his family claiming that they received little assistance from Indian authorities in tracing his whereabouts over nearly two years.

The deceased, Mandeep Kumar, was born with a congenital limb disability. His body was flown back to India earlier this week, bringing a painful end to a long and uncertain wait for his family.

Promised job abroad, forced into conflict

According to his family, Mandeep had paid a travel agent who promised him employment in Europe, hoping to improve his life despite physical challenges. Instead, he was allegedly deceived, routed through Armenia, and forcibly recruited into the Russian Army.

The family first learnt of his situation in December 2023, when Mandeep sent video messages pleading for help and saying he had been compelled to join the military.

“He kept sending videos, begging to be rescued,” his brother Jagdeep Kumar told India Today. “He was scared and only wanted to return home.”

Months of silence and unanswered pleas

Mandeep last spoke to his family in March 2024. After that, there was no contact. Jagdeep said the family approached local authorities, the state government and the Centre, but received no clear information.

“With no support from the system, we were left alone,” Jagdeep said. “No one told us anything.”

In a desperate effort to find answers, Jagdeep and his father travelled to Russia towards the end of 2025. Jagdeep submitted his DNA to help identify his brother. Seven days later, the family was informed that Mandeep had died.

Jagdeep alleged that his DNA had already been collected at AIIMS in February 2025 through the Ministry of External Affairs, but those samples were never shared with Russian authorities.

Family seeks accountability

Jagdeep claimed that neither the Punjab government nor the Centre provided meaningful logistical, diplomatic or financial support during the search. He also said he is in contact with several families from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar whose sons were allegedly trafficked and sent to fight, with many reported dead.

The family has yet to inform their elderly parents of Mandeep’s death. “They are still waiting for him,” Jagdeep said quietly.

He said he has lost hope in official intervention and will now pursue action against the agents involved. The Central Bureau of Investigation had registered an FIR in March 2024 into an alleged trafficking racket linked to the conflict.