A family in Telangana is enduring deep anxiety while awaiting official answers after receiving a distressing message that their 43-year-old relative, who traveled to Russia seeking work, had allegedly died near the Russia-Ukraine border. Without any official verification of his passing, relatives have urged the Indian government to determine his status and repatriate his remains if the worst is confirmed.
Mohammed Afzal Khan, hailing from Tadkol village in the Kamareddy district of Telangana, flew to Russia on February 15, 2026, under the impression that he was securing civilian employment. Relatives stated that he was initially pitched jobs involving gardening and related tasks, but was later allegedly forced into military service with Russian forces and sent to the frontlines.
Anxiety escalated within the household following a voice message transmitted by Sirshu Ashok, a fellow regional traveler currently in Russia. Ashok reportedly informed his wife that Afzal had perished near the combat zone the previous week. This communication was swiftly passed along to Afzal's relatives, plunging them into uncertainty as they sought formal verification.
Afzal's father, Abbas Khan, has petitioned the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow to locate his son and provide a definitive update on his survival. According to the family, the embassy in Moscow has indicated that Russian officials have not yet validated Afzal's status or his reported fatality. The family continues to press central authorities for immediate intervention and assistance in bringing his remains back home if the tragedy is verified.
Until official channels clarify what befell Afzal, his loved ones remain in limbo. Afzal was part of a group of four men from the former Nizamabad district who journeyed to Russia following assurances of employment. The remaining three individuals were identified as Sirshu Ashok, Bhukya Ravinder, and Megavath Prakash.
According to family accounts, all four men were initially put to work performing basic tasks like gardening and cutting grass before being incorporated into military operations. Families of the other three men are likewise demanding government assistance to secure their safe repatriation to India, while the reported death of Afzal awaits official confirmation.