Probe finds Vizag youth accepted Russian military jobs willingly

VISAKHAPATNAM:Investigative inquiries into the case of Jetti Vamsi—a Visakhapatnam youth who released a distress video from the Russia-Ukraine warzone—have revealed that the victim originally went abroad voluntarily through a Chodavaram-based local agent before being redirected into high-paying military support roles in Russia.Speaking to The Hindu on Tuesday (November 3), Duvvada Circle Inspector N. Ganesh confirmed that police summoned and interrogated the recruiter, identified as A. Gangu Naidu of Chodavaram in Anakapalli district.According to the police probe, five youths from the region initially accepted the overseas offer from the agent willingly. However, upon reaching their destination, the group came into contact with intermediaries—identified as individuals from Kerala and Nepal—who presented an alternative employment proposal for higher packages.“The intermediaries offered them roles as assistants to the Russian Armed Forces, promising monthly salaries reaching up to ₹2 lakh. One of them had even got such salary,” circle inspector Ganesh said while adding that the five individuals accepted the initial offer from the agent on their own interest.“However, after arriving there, they were introduced to other handlers who lured them with alternative roles supporting military forces for higher pay,“ he added.The situation deteriorated after the youths were inducted into military facilities, where several of them—including Vamsi—refused to continue working under combat conditions and sent video messages home detailing their ordeal.The matter has officially reached the Indian Embassy in Moscow, which is actively coordinating with Russian authorities to trace and safely release the affected youths. State authorities continue to monitor the case closely for their safe repatriation, the CI said. Published - November 03, 2026 07:23 pm IST