Who was Binil TB—Kerala man who died in Russia-Ukraine war
What's the story
A 32-year-old man from Kerala's Thrissur district has been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Binil TB, a resident of Wadakkanchery, was serving with a Russian mercenary unit when he was killed in a drone attack.
His relative and fellow recruit Jain TK also suffered severe injuries in the attack and is currently undergoing treatment in Moscow.
Deceptive recruitment
Recruitment and deployment in war zone
Reportedly, Binil and Jain were lured to Russia by a recruitment agency promising them jobs as electricians.
They had arrived in Russia on April 4, 2024, on private visas arranged by a relative serving in the Russian military.
Their passports were confiscated upon arrival and they were deployed to the war zone as part of the Russian Military Support Service.
Frontline deployment
Forced into active duty due to personnel shortages
Initially, their duties were limited to distributing food and supplies to soldiers. However, with a shortage of personnel, they were later given weapons and some training. By December, they had been deployed on active frontline duties.
Binil's wife, Joicy John revealed he could only contact his family once a week. In his last message in December 2024, he informed them of their deployment to the war front.
Personal impact
Family's distress and government intervention
John expressed her distress over the situation, saying she has lost peace of mind since her husband's departure seven months ago.
She added that around 45 Indians have been discharged so far from similar situations.
The Indian government has been coordinating with Russian authorities to help Indians stuck in such situations.
In August last year, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India supports any practical resolution to restore peace in the conflict.
Recruitment scams
Widespread concern over deceptive recruitment practices
The plight of Indians duped into joining the Russian military gained attention after a few arrests connected to trafficking networks promising lucrative jobs or citizenship were made last year.
The head of the Orthodox Syrian Church also directly approached the Russian ambassador in Binil's case.
Binil's death has sent shock waves through his family and community, especially since his wife delivered a baby five months ago whom Binil never met.