Kamal Ghorui
Russia plans to bring at least 40,000 Indian workers in 2026 to help fill a growing shortage of workers caused by a declining population, people leaving the country, and the ongoing war in Ukraine since 2022.The figure was confirmed by Boris Titov, Russia’s special representative for relations with international organisations in the field of sustainable development, in comments to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. India’s ambassador to Moscow, Vinay Kumar, also told the agency that between 70,000 and 80,000 Indian citizens were already working in Russia by the end of 2025.The move follows a labour mobility agreement signed in December 2025 during a meeting in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The agreement includes a planned quota of more than 70,000 Indian workers for 2026.Border data reviewed by Deutsche Welle shows that Indian migration to Russia has been rising steadily. Around 32,000 Indian citizens crossed into Russia in the first quarter of 2025, followed by 36,000 in the second quarter. The number then jumped to 63,000 in the third quarter of the year.Indian workers are being recruited through both official and unofficial agencies. These agencies are expected to provide information about jobs and working conditions. Wages for low-skilled Indian workers range between €475 and €950 per month ($556 to $1,112). In December, Russian outlet Fontanka reported that Indian workers were cleaning streets in St Petersburg. Some told the outlet they earned around 100,000 rubles per month, received free accommodation and meals, and were offered Russian language courses. City officials said around 3,000 Indian citizens had arrived in St Petersburg looking for work.In the past, some Indians became victims of fraud. Reportedly, some citizens were misled into signing contracts with the Russian army and were later sent to fight in Ukraine.Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, 126 Indians have signed army contracts, according to MEA. At least 12 have been killed, while 96 have returned to India, according to the foreign ministry.Economist Igor Lipsits said language could become a major barrier, noting that most Indian workers do not speak Russian, while many Russians do not speak English. “You bring people into the country with whom you cannot communicate,” he said.Economist Andrei Yakovlev said Russia’s focus on India may also be driven by a desire to reduce migration from Muslim-majority Central Asian states.Russia’s labour shortage stood at around 2.2 million workers in 2024, according to official figures cited by DW.
