Russia plans to bring at least 40,000 Indian workers in 2026 to fill a growing labour shortage. This shortage stems from a shrinking population, people leaving the country, and the ongoing war in Ukraine since 2022. Boris Titov, Russia’s special representative for relations with international organisations, confirmed this to Russian news agency RIA Novosti. India's ambassador to Moscow, Vinay Kumar, said that by the end of 2025, between 70,000 and 80,000 Indian citizens were already working in Russia. This follows a labour mobility agreement signed in December 2025 during a New Delhi meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The deal sets a quota of over 70,000 Indian workers for 2026. Data reviewed by Deutsche Welle shows rising Indian migration to Russia. Around 32,000 Indians crossed into Russia in early 2025, rising to 63,000 by the third quarter. Indian workers are hired through official and unofficial agencies that share job and work condition details. Low-skilled workers earn between €475 and €950 ($556 to $1,112) monthly. A report by Russian outlet Fontanka said Indian workers in St Petersburg clean streets, earn about 100,000 rubles monthly, get free housing and meals, and can take Russian language courses. City officials noted about 3,000 Indian workers arrived in St Petersburg seeking jobs. However, some Indians have faced fraud, with reports of being tricked into army contracts and sent to fight in Ukraine. Since the 2022 invasion, 126 Indians signed army contracts; 12 died, and 96 returned home, said India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Economists warned language barriers may slow integration since many Indians do not speak Russian and many Russians do not speak English. Another expert said Russia prefers Indian workers to reduce migration from Muslim-majority Central Asian countries. Official figures show Russia’s labour shortage reached 2.2 million workers in 2024.