Ukrainian Strike Kills Indian Worker at Russian Oil Refinery

Foreign workers drawn to Russia by higher wages are facing the dangers of the war in Ukraine, including attacks on industrial facilities far from the front lines. Ramaya Anjarana, a 29-year-old steel fitter from India, was killed in May when a Ukrainian strike hit the oil refinery in southern Moscow where he worked, according to the Indian staffing firm's chief executive. Vasudev Reddy, chief executive of Mycon Engineering, which recruited Anjarana for the job, said the worker suffered a fatal head injury when a blast threw him backward as employees gathered near the refinery entrance after their shift.

Several other Indian laborers were injured in the attack, Reddy said. Anjarana had traveled to Russia to work in construction, seeking wages more than twice what he could earn in India. The money was intended to help his family repay debts incurred for a house and weddings, according to the account of his decision to work abroad.

Before leaving India, Anjarana had little concern about the war. His brother, who had previously worked in Russia, had assured him that conditions appeared safe and normal.

Russia's labor shortage has attracted thousands of Indian workers, forming part of a broader influx of foreign laborers seeking employment. However, Ukraine's expanding campaign against Russian industrial infrastructure has exposed some of these workers to the consequences of the conflict. Ukrainian forces have used drones and missiles to target Russian oil refineries and e-commerce warehouses, with some strikes reaching locations thousands of miles from the front lines. Foreign workers employed at these facilities can be caught in attacks intended to hit infrastructure inside Russia.

The strikes on Russian energy facilities have also become part of wider diplomatic efforts surrounding the war. Ukraine has faced pressure from President Trump over its attacks on Russian refineries. Ukraine had not struck refineries for the two days preceding the source report, but it said it would agree to an extended cease-fire only if Russia stopped attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.