'We are trapped, please save us', old video of Kerala man killed while fighting for Russia, resurfaces

It was news that a family in Kerala dreaded for more than ten months. On Monday, the family of Binil T Babu was informed that the 32-year-old, who was employed by the Russian Military Support Service, was killed in a Ukrainian shelling.

CREDIT: BCCL

Tricked into fighting for Russia

Binil leaves behind a devastated family, including his five-month-old son, whom he never got to meet. Binil and his relative Jane Kurian left for what they believed was work as an electrician and plumber in Poland in April 2024. But only later did they learn that they were recruited to Russia to take part in the war against Ukraine.

Old video seeking help resurfaces

In September 2024, Binil and Jane sent a video message to their families urging authorities to save them from the war front. They also revealed that another man from Kerala, who was with them, Sandeep Chandran, was killed in a drone attack in Donetsk in August.

Victims of human trafficking who are trapped in Russian war zone seek government support to bring them back. These two - Binil and Jane - from Malappuram are working in an extremely risky situation. Thrissur native Sandeep Chandran, who died in the war, was part of their team. pic.twitter.com/JOujZXZdGw

¡ª Jisha Surya (@jishasurya) September 6, 2024

Binil killed, relative injured

According to the families, they received a message from Jane informing them that he was hurt in a shell attack. He also informed them that Binil was also hurt, but he was unaware of his condition. Family members said that Jane, who has been shifted to a hospital in Moscow, has undergone surgery. They have appealed to the authorities to bring him home at the earliest to provide him with medical treatment.

CREDIT: AP

Binil feared he could be killed soon

Binil's family told local media that he had last contacted them on New Year's Day. In an unusually long video call, Binil informed his family that he was being deployed to the waterfront and expressed fears that they might not see him alive again.

Indians recruited into Russian army

The two men are among scores of Indians who were tricked into fighting the war in Ukraine. The youths, including those from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and other states, were lured by recruiting agencies with offers of high-paying jobs in Europe. Last year, following the intervention of the Indian government, Russia released nearly 100 Indians who were conscripted into the army.

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