Srinagar, Feb. 26 -- Two months ago, when Azad, a borewell technician, was blessed with a baby boy, he resolved to find a secure job that would support his growing family. However, little did he know that he would end up in Russia fighting their war with neighboring country Ukraine.

Azad, a 31-year-old resident of Poshwan village in Tral, Pulwama district, stumbled upon an advertisement from a YouTube channel called "Baba Vlogs," operated by a consultant named Faisal Khan, based in Dubai.

"My brother reached-out to them, they informed him to travel to Dubai," said Sajad.

Azad, according to his brother, fled to Dubai in December 2013, where he was provided tickets to Moscow, Russia, by the said consultant.

"He was asked to sign papers ...