NEW DELHI: India says it has uncovered a “major human trafficking network” that lured young men to Russia with the promise of jobs only to force them to fight in the war in Ukraine. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), about 35 men had been sent to Russia so far on Thursday, an increase from the 20 men previously mentioned by India’s foreign ministry.

At least two men who went to Russia to work as “helpers” in the army have died during frontline fighting, their families said. The Indian Embassy in Russia confirmed one of these deaths.

Traffickers operating in several Indian states targeted people using social media platforms and through local agents, the CBI said in a statement. The CBI criminal case says some of the men were also offered admission to “dubious private universities” in Russia along with “free visa extensions at a discount” to lure them.

“Nationals trading with India were trained in combat roles and deployed against their will at forward bases in the Russian-Ukrainian war zone,” the CBI said, adding that some of the victims were also “severely injured” in the war zone.

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The CBI said searches were conducted in a number of locations, including the capital New Delhi and the financial capital Mumbai, and 50 million rupees ($605,000) in cash had already been seized, along with some documents and electronic records. “Some suspects were also detained for questioning at various locations,” it said.

The Foreign Office said any case of Indians being tricked into fighting in the war was “vigorously discussed” with Moscow. In videos circulating on social media this month, the seven men asked the Indian government for help to return home, saying they had traveled to Russia on tourist visas but were now being forced to serve in its army.

“We have seen some videos and we are trying to contact these people,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. Thousands of people have died on both sides since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Moscow called a “special military operation”.

New Delhi and Moscow have enjoyed a close relationship for decades, and India has refused to condemn Russia over its war with Ukraine, urging both sides to end the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. India has also stepped up its purchases of cheap Russian oil, much to the frustration of Western capitals.