On April 11, 2026, the Supreme Court of India agreed to hear a writ petition seeking the repatriation of 26 Indian citizens who were allegedly lured to Russia by agents on false promises of jobs and educational opportunities, and were subsequently forced to serve with the Russian Army in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine armed conflict. A bench issued notice to the Union of India, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Ambassador to Russia and other concerned authorities, directing them to file their responses within a stipulated time. The Court flagged serious concerns that such deceptive recruitment practices may amount to human trafficking under domestic and international law. According to the petitioners, most of the affected Indians hail from Kerala, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, with some already reported injured and a few feared killed. The petition, filed by families of the missing citizens, urges the Government to immediately locate each person, verify their legal and health status, and undertake diplomatic and consular efforts for their safe return. The Ministry of External Affairs has in previous statements confirmed that at least 126 Indian nationals were earlier working with the Russian military in support roles, of whom 96 have been discharged and 12 have died. The Court's intervention underscores the growing legal and humanitarian dimensions of the war's impact on Indian citizens caught in an overseas conflict zone.