Latest news with #Binil
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala family awaits repatriation of son's remains from Russian frontline
THRISSUR: As the Russia–Ukraine war continues with all its devastation, the family of Binil, who died while serving on the Russian frontline after falling prey to a trafficking racket, is still waiting to repatriate his mortal remains. It has been over seven months since reports from Russia confirmed the death of Binil. Since then, his family has been running from one office to another, hoping to see him one last time. Binil T B, a native of Wadakkanchery, took a flight to Russia on 24 April, 2024, along with his friends. They had been promised jobs as electricians in Moscow. But things allegedly took a turn for the worse soon after. Binil was moved to a military settlement, where his passport and documents were confiscated. In the initial days, they were instructed to supply food and essential items to the settlement. But by June 2024, they were sent to the frontline. Binil and Jain were assigned to one military regiment, while another group, including two Malayalis, Santhosh and Sandeep, was sent to a different location. Sandeep died in a shell attack in August 2025. According to Jain Kurien, who returned from Russia in May 2025, 'I saw him last in the morning on 5 January, 2025. On 6 January, I was transferred to another regiment and on the way, I saw him lying motionless following a drone attack. I was also injured in a similar attack on the way and was hospitalised. When Sandeep died, his body was brought to Moscow within two weeks of the incident. But in the case of Binil, we don't know where the mortal remains are kept,' he said. Binil's father Babu, a tailor, said, 'It has been difficult to manage things. I have been visiting all possible offices to bring my son back. I have gone to Thiruvananthapuram four times already, spoken to the authorities including Norka and the Russian Embassy. I also sent letters to the Ministry of External Affairs, MoS Suresh Gopi, the Chief Minister's Office, etc. However, we are yet to receive a positive reply as to when his body can be repatriated,' said Babu, adding that he is not even able to focus on work.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Seven months on, Kerala family awaits repatriation of son's remains from Russian frontline
THRISSUR: As the Russia–Ukraine war continues with all its devastation, the family of Binil, who died while serving on the Russian frontline after falling prey to a trafficking racket, is still waiting to repatriate his mortal remains. It has been over seven months since reports from Russia confirmed the death of Binil. Since then, his family has been running from one office to another, hoping to see him one last time. Binil T B, a native of Wadakkanchery, took a flight to Russia on 24 April, 2024, along with his friends. They had been promised jobs as electricians in Moscow. But things allegedly took a turn for the worse soon after. Binil was moved to a military settlement, where his passport and documents were confiscated. In the initial days, they were instructed to supply food and essential items to the settlement. But by June 2024, they were sent to the frontline. Binil and Jain were assigned to one military regiment, while another group, including two Malayalis, Santhosh and Sandeep, was sent to a different location. Sandeep died in a shell attack in August 2025. According to Jain Kurien, who returned from Russia in May 2025, 'I saw him last in the morning on 5 January, 2025. On 6 January, I was transferred to another regiment and on the way, I saw him lying motionless following a drone attack. I was also injured in a similar attack on the way and was hospitalised. When Sandeep died, his body was brought to Moscow within two weeks of the incident. But in the case of Binil, we don't know where the mortal remains are kept,' he said. Binil's father Babu, a tailor, said, 'It has been difficult to manage things. I have been visiting all possible offices to bring my son back. I have gone to Thiruvananthapuram four times already, spoken to the authorities including Norka and the Russian Embassy. I also sent letters to the Ministry of External Affairs, MoS Suresh Gopi, the Chief Minister's Office, etc. However, we are yet to receive a positive reply as to when his body can be repatriated,' said Babu, adding that he is not even able to focus on work.
Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Seriously injured in drone attack that killed relative, Kerala man who fought in Ukraine war finally back home from Russia
Injured while fighting for the Russian Army on the frontlines of its war with Ukraine, a man from Kerala has finally returned home on Thursday following months of calls for help and the involvement of the Indian embassy. Jain T K (27), a native of Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district, was lucky to survive a drone attack early January in which his relative, Binil T B (32), died. Binil's body is yet to reach Indian authorities in Moscow for repatriation to Kerala. Seriously injured, Jain had been under treatment in Moscow for the last four months. Fearing he would be sent back to the war front after treatment, Jain made several distress calls, which then led to the Indian embassy getting involved and his eventual return to Delhi and finally Kerala. Jain said, 'We were injured on January 6 near Rostov-on Don, which is around 1,000 km from Moscow. I had sustained injuries in my stomach and had undergone multiple surgeries at a hospital in Moscow, where those injured in the war front were treated. On April 22, I was told to go back to the military camp as all other persons discharged from the hospital were asked to do. Fearing death on the war front, I informed the family and the embassy on April 22, which led to my release.' He said he has no idea where Binil's mortal remains are. Binil and Jain were among several Indians who travelled to Russia in April in the hopes of being employed in the country's military support service as electricians, cooks, plumbers and drivers. Instead, they were made to give up their Indian passports, take permanent residence, get conscripted into the Russian Army and work on the frontlines of the war. In August last year, one such recruit from Kerala named Sandeep died in a drone attack. Since then, Binil and Jain had been desperately trying to get home. They had also sent several voice messages, saying their lives were in danger and that they were forced to move to the frontlines.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
It was a deadly gamble, but I had no choice, Jain Kurian recounts his escape from Russia
Jain Kurian still can't quite believe he's back home. After months of pain, fear, and uncertainty, the 28-year-old man, who was forcibly enlisted into the Russian Army and injured in the Russia-Ukraine war zone, has finally returned to his home town Wadakkancherry on Thursday. For the past three months, Jain had been recovering from war injuries at a hospital in Moscow. But his discharge came with a chilling twist — he was ordered to report back to his army unit, stationed far from the capital. 'That meant one thing,' says Jain. 'They were going to throw me back into the war. My attending physician gave an indication that the Russian military is likely to renew my contract, which has already been completed, without my consent,' he says. Emergency certificate, ticket What followed was nothing short of a high-stakes escape. Jain was in constant touch with the Indian Embassy and the Malayali Association in Russia. Together, they helped him find his way out. 'They arranged emergency certificate and tickets for me. I escaped from there and reached the Moscow airport instead of going to the army camp,' Jain says. 'It was a deadly gamble—but I had no other choice,' he adds. 'If I returned to that camp, they'd send me straight back to the war front. And I knew what that meant. I may face the same fate as my cousin, Binil Babu, who was killed in the war. ' 'Everything feels like a dream,'whispers Jain, his voice weak and trembling. He was just discharged from the Moscow hospital on Tuesday, after spending three gruelling months in recovery. 'The doctor told me I needed at least a month of rest,' he says. Drone strike On January 7, while being moved toward the war front, a drone exploded near him. The shrapnel tore through his abdomen, causing severe internal bleeding. Jain underwent multiple surgeries. Now safe in Wadakkanchery, Jain is finally beginning to breathe again. But the trauma of the war, the loss of his cousin, and the memories of his narrow escape still haunt him. Jain, son of T.M. Kurian, was working as a mechanic at an auto shop in Ernakulam when he went to Russia with his cousin, Binil, in search of better luck for his family. A job racket promised them good jobs. On reaching there, the two young men were recruited to the Russian Army and given compulsory training. Initially they were tasked with supplying food to the soldiers and building trenches at the war front in Russia-occupied Ukraine. Later, they were sent for active war. Binil was killed in a drone attack, while Jain was severely injured. Jain is among the youths who have fallen prey to illegal recruitment networks in Russia. Lured by the promise of good jobs and better wages, they end up trapped in the dangerous military operations on the Russia-Ukraine war front.
