The wife of a Kanpur-based engineer has claimed that her husband was detained by police in Moscow and is afraid that her husband is being pressured to join the Russian military.
Read Full StoryAccording to Sneha, they are residents of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandan works as an engineer.
She said that a shortage of personnel in the Russian military had led to attempts to recruit foreign nationals, including Indians, into the country's armed forces.
However, no official statement has so far emerged from the company, the Indian Embassy or Russian authorities confirming his detention or the allegation that he is being pressured to join the Russian military.
advertisementIn July 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs warned Indians against fraudulent overseas job offers following cases of citizens being misled into joining the Russian military.
The wife of a Kanpur-based engineer has claimed that her husband was detained by police in Moscow and is afraid that her husband is being pressured to join the Russian military. She has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for immediate intervention and help in securing his safe return.
Sneha Chandan Gupta, based in Moscow, shared a video on social media in which she said that her husband, Chandan Gupta, was taken into custody by Moscow police at around 12.30 pm on Sunday. Sneha said she is now stranded in Moscow with their 10-year-old son and does not know what to do.
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According to Sneha, they are residents of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandan works as an engineer. She said he is associated with a company based in Noida's Sector 62 and had travelled to Russia on a work visa for an assignment.
She appealed to the Indian government and the Uttar Pradesh government to intervene and help bring her husband back safely.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Russia has said that they are aware of the development and are in touch with Sneha and local authorities regarding the matter.
"We have seen a social media post by an Indian national regarding her husband. We are in touch with her and the local authorities in the matter. As per law enforcement authorities, it is a legal matter and they are looking into it. The Embassy has also sought consular access," it said.
WIFE CLAIMS PRESSURE TO JOIN RUSSIAN ARMY
Sneha claimed that her husband had not committed any wrongdoing but was nevertheless detained and taken to jail. She further claimed that after his detention, pressure was being put on him to join the Russian army.
She said that a shortage of personnel in the Russian military had led to attempts to recruit foreign nationals, including Indians, into the country's armed forces.
Sneha also claimed that her husband was harassed around Moscow Day before he was detained.
However, there is currently no independent confirmation of the circumstances surrounding his detention, the allegations against him, or whether any formal process has been initiated to enlist him in the Russian military.
FAMILY SEEKS HELP FROM PM MODI, YOGI ADITYANATH
In her video, Sneha appeared emotional while seeking help from the Indian government. She said she does not understand Russian and has therefore been unable to determine exactly what is happening to her husband or why he has been detained.
She also said the couple has a 10-year-old son and that the family has been left deeply distressed by the situation.
Sneha appealed to people to share her video widely and urged the authorities to take note of the case. She specifically sought intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure her husband's safe return to India.
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION YET
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Chandan is reportedly working in Russia through an Indian company headquartered in Noida, which also has business operations in Russia. However, no official statement has so far emerged from the company, the Indian Embassy or Russian authorities confirming his detention or the allegation that he is being pressured to join the Russian military.
The case comes amid previous concerns over Indian nationals travelling to Russia after being recruited for jobs and subsequently becoming involved in Russian military activities.
For now, key details remain unclear, including the exact reason for Chandan's detention, his current location and whether any process to enlist him in the Russian military has actually begun.
INDIANS IN RUSSIAN FORCES: A GROWING PATTERN?
As of December 2025, Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, 202 Indians had been recruited into Russian forces, with 26 killed and seven reported missing.
The Indian government said some were misled or coerced into military service and was working to secure their discharge and repatriation. It was also coordinating DNA-based identification of deceased Indians.
Separately, some Indian nationals had joined Ukraine’s International Legion, with casualties reported on both sides.
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In July 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs warned Indians against fraudulent overseas job offers following cases of citizens being misled into joining the Russian military.
Diplomatic efforts have secured the release of 139 nationals, while around two dozen remain in Russia.
The Supreme Court has also directed measures to support affected families, including nodal officers, DNA testing, legal aid, compensation and repatriation assistance.
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