The Supreme Court of India has asked the central government to respond to a habeas corpus petition concerning 26 Indian nationals reportedly trapped in Russia and coerced into participating in the ongoing conflict against Ukraine. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, expressed concern after hearing from the families of the affected individuals, who claim that their loved ones are being compelled to fight for a foreign state against their will. The petitioners allege that these individuals entered Russia on tourist, student, or job visas, but upon arrival, their passports and identity documents were confiscated. They also reported being subjected to threats and coercion, leading to their forced enlistment in military operations linked to the Russian armed forces. The families have attempted to contact various authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow, but have received little to no information regarding the situation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the government would investigate the matter, and the Supreme Court has requested a response within one week.