New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday that 139 Indian nationals have been released from the Russian Army till now, and work is underway to get the remaining two dozen Indians released soon. "We have been following up with the Russian side for the release of the remaining Indian nationals in the Russian army. So far, our efforts have led to the release of 139 Indian nationals; we continue to pursue the release of the remaining two dozen Indian nationals who are reportedly in the Russian army," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated during a bi-weekly media briefing. The Ministry said in December that 202 Indian nationals were believed to have been recruited into the Russian armed forces. In September 2025, the MEA had issued a stern advisory cautioning Indian nationals against joining the Russian Army, amid reports that several Indians who had travelled to Moscow were being pushed into combat roles in the Ukraine war.