Who Is The YouTuber, Faizal Khan, Allegedly Sending Indians To The Russia-Ukraine Front?

The role of an Indian man, identified as Faisal Abdul Mutallib Khan, has come to light after two Indians died as a result of being tricked into the Ukraine-Russia war.

Faisal Abdul Mutallib Khan, who runs a recruitment agency and a popular YouTube channel called Baba Vlogs, has been implicated in the incident.

Baba Vlog Youtuber sending Indians to the Russia-Ukraine war

Reports suggest that several Indian men were allegedly lured to Russia by him, promising lucrative jobs in non-combat roles within the Russian army. However, many of them were later compelled to participate in the war. In a video posted in September 2023, Faisal Khan purportedly promised his viewers hefty salaries and government cards for those joining the Russian army, which would assist them in obtaining permanent residency, as per media reports.

Allegedly, a significant number of Indians were sent to Russia by him with the promise of employment in support roles within the Russian army, resulting in the involvement of individuals like Mohammed Afsan, who died in the conflict in Ukraine.

Who is Faisal Khan?

Faisal Khan, a resident of Mumbai's Dadar in his mid-30s, operates a manpower consultancy firm serving various countries. According to Indian Express reports, Khan, who has approximately three lakh YouTube followers, launched his consultancy, Babavlogs, in 2016. His last video, uploaded on January 8, focused on New Zealand visit visas.

Khan, who moved to Dubai in 2008 and worked as a salesman, came under scrutiny from Indian authorities in 2018 after a man he sent to Dubai alleged forced conversion to Islam. Despite this, Khan continued his consultancy operations.

In July 2023, Khan began promoting job opportunities in Russia, particularly in the Russian Army, through his YouTube channel. He claimed that recruits could earn salaries ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹1 lakh after completing three months of training. Khan asserted that these roles involved tasks like clearing debris and maintaining arms and ammunition, emphasizing that there was no associated risk. However, he required an initial fee of ₹3 lakh for his company, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Regarding the recent controversy involving Indians being sent to the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone, Khan told Indian Express that he facilitated the travel of 35 individuals to Russia, assuring them that they would not be deployed on the front lines. Khan stated that he tried to repatriate them upon learning of their situation but claimed that events beyond his control unfolded once they arrived in Russia.

Despite facing criticism, Khan defended himself, stating that all those who went to Russia were aware of the risks involved. He insisted that he wouldn't have left any evidence if his intent were malicious and maintained that he kept his Russia-related videos online because he was not guilty.