THRISSUR: A Malayali youth, who was trapped in the Russian mercenary forces, was killed in the ongoing war in Ukraine on Monday. The deceased is Thrissur Kuttanellur native Binil Babu. Binil's relatives have received an official notification from the Indian Embassy confirming his demise. Jain Kurian, another Malayali youth trapped in Russian mercenary forces, had recently informed Binil's relatives that Binil had sustained severe injuries in a shell attack in Ukraine. The news of Binil's death comes amid the Indian authorities' ongoing efforts to rescue victims of human trafficking and bring them back to India.
Jain, who accompanied Binil to Russia for work, was also injured in the war. The Indian Embassy has informed that Jain is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Moscow. Jain's family recently received photos from the hospital. Both Binil and Jain had travelled to Russia last April through a family friend.
They were allegedly taken to Russia under the pretence of securing employment. It was only later that they realized they were recruited into the Russian mercenary forces. A Malayali agent based in Russia is reported to have tricked them and coerced them into joining the mercenary forces. A few months earlier, another individual from Thrissur, Sandeep Chandran (30) of Kallur, also lost his life in a shell attack during the war.
It is reported that many young men became part of the Russian mercenary forces due to human trafficking scams. According to reports, such trafficking is carried out with the knowledge of the Russian military.