India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Russia for his first visit since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While Modi has not condemned Russia for its war on Ukraine, he is under pressure to secure the release of Indians allegedly misled into fighting for Moscow. Reportedly lured with the promise of lucrative jobs and education, the Indians ended up on the frontlines. Earlier in the year, the Indian Foreign Ministry confirmed that some of the country's citizens had signed up for jobs helping Russia in its war against Ukraine.

DW speaks to family members about how the men were recruited to travel to Russia and what they are now hearing from their loved ones, many of whom are stranded and cannot leave. In video messages, the men talk about their struggles and fears, while their relatives in India express their worries and expectations for Modi to bring the men home.