New Delhi, July 19: About 50 Indian nationals have got in touch with the government, asking for its help to be discharged from the Russian military, India's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Earlier this month, Russia had promised to discharge the Indians falsely induced to join its army in the war against Ukraine, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his July 8-9 visit to Moscow.

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of Indians fighting in the Russian army against Ukraine during his visit to Russia, a man from Punjab said on Friday his hopes to return home had been dashed as he has been asked to return to the frontline.

Gagandeep Singh from Punjab’s Gurdaspur is among the many men from India who have claimed that they were inducted into the Russian army against their will and forced to fight.

Though Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to the release of Indian nationals who wished to return to India following discussions with PM Modi, Gagandeep Singh said his commander denied getting any orders from the government for their release. “After PM Modi went back, now the whole unit is going to the frontline, and I have also been told to join the unit. I request the Indian government to talk to Russia and arrange our visit back to India,” he said from a camp where he is recovering from a knee injury.

Singh could talk to The Indian Express as he was sent back from the frontline due to the injury and he had access to the internet while in the camp.-Agencies