Jammu Youth Killed in Russia-Ukraine War After Being Duped by Fake Job Offers
In a tragic incident highlighting the dangers of fraudulent overseas employment schemes, a 23-year-old man from Jammu, Sachin Khajuria, was cremated on Sunday in his village of Pahariwalla, Akhnoor. His mortal remains arrived earlier that day, nearly a year after he was believed to have been killed in the Russia-Ukraine war. Sachin had traveled to Russia in August 2025 with dreams of securing a job, only to be sent to the conflict zone under deceptive circumstances.
Last Contact and Desperate Plea for Help
On September 13, 2025, Sachin made a WhatsApp call to his family, informing them that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war and pleading for assistance. This was the final communication his family received from him, as his phone was subsequently switched off. His brother, Koushal Khajuria, recounted that Sachin had flown to Russia on August 4, 2025, on a study visa, lured by promises of lucrative civilian construction jobs.
Deceptive Job Offers and Recruitment
Sachin, along with two other youths from Jammu district—Sumeet Sharma and Atul Sharma—reportedly traveled to Russia last year after receiving offer letters for what were presented as civilian roles, including bunker-related work. According to their families, these offers guaranteed a one-time payment of Rs 20 lakh, a monthly salary of Rs 2.5 lakh, and additional benefits. However, instead of safe employment, the youths were allegedly forced into the Russian army and deployed to the war zone.
Families' Struggle and Official Intervention
In December 2025, the families of Sachin and Sumeet approached authorities, expressing concerns over their sons' whereabouts since September and accusing agents of duping them with fake job promises. They also met with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and J&K Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma to escalate the matter. Subsequently, the family received an email requesting blood samples for DNA testing. Koushal provided his sample, and authorities confirmed Sachin's death approximately ten days ago.
Challenges in Repatriation and Previous Case
Sources indicate that the family was informed that Sachin's body could not be recovered immediately due to ongoing hostilities. It was retrieved weeks later in a decomposed state before being chemically preserved and repatriated. Sachin is the second person from Jammu to die in the Russia-Ukraine war under similar circumstances. In February last year, the body of 24-year-old Manjinder Singh from Gowana village in the R S Pura sector was repatriated. Singh had traveled to Russia in December 2024 on a student visa, aiming to pursue higher education and support his family financially.
Government Response and Warnings
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Rajya Sabha on December 18, 2025, that 202 Indian nationals are believed to have been recruited into the Russian armed forces since 2022, with 26 deaths reported. The MEA has advised Indians to avoid overseas job offers linked to conflict zones and stated that the issue of Indians recruited for combat operations through fake job offers has been taken up with Russian authorities. This case underscores the urgent need for vigilance against such deceptive recruitment practices targeting vulnerable job seekers.
