Published Oct 12, 2026 | 10:58 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2026 | 10:59 AM
Russia Ukraine war. (iStock)
The family of Mohammed Afzal Khan, a 43-year-old from Banswada in Kamareddy district, is awaiting official confirmation of reports that he was killed while fighting for the Russian Army. Neither the Russian authorities nor the Indian Embassy in Moscow has confirmed the claim.
Amjedullah Khan, spokesperson for the Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT), raised the matter in a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and a post on X on Monday, 12 October.
According to Amjedullah Khan, Sirshu Ashok, a fellow recruit, sent his wife a voice message around 9 pm on Sunday. Afzal’s relatives later received the message, which claimed that Afzal had died the previous week near the Russia-Ukraine border. Both men had been sent there to fight.
Calling it an urgent humanitarian matter, Amjedullah Khan said the family deserved to know the truth without delay. He urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to direct the Indian Embassy to approach Russia’s Defence Ministry and obtain written confirmation of Afzal’s status. If Afzal is dead, the Embassy should arrange for his mortal remains to be brought to Hyderabad, he said.
He also sought efforts to trace and secure the release of Ashok, Bhukya Ravinder and Megavath Prakash, as well as an inquiry into the agents who sent the men to Russia.
The four men, from Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts, travelled to Russia around February. Their families say each paid an agent about Rs 3 lakh for jobs as helpers, cleaners or security staff. However, they were allegedly given guns and military training instead. On 29 September, their families petitioned the state’s Pravasi Prajavani grievance platform, seeking their return.
Amjedullah Khan had written to the MEA and the Indian Embassy in Moscow on 2 October, seeking intervention to secure the four men’s safe repatriation. He said the Embassy’s First Secretary (Consular), Hardesh Giri, had replied that the matter had been taken up with the Russian Defence Ministry and further information would follow.
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(With inputs from Sreshta Ladegam. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
