Indian student from Gujarat pleads for help in video from Ukraine, says was forced to join Russian Military

A young Indian man from Gujarat, held in Ukraine after surrendering to its forces, has released video messages alleging he was coerced into serving in the Russian army through blackmail involving fabricated drug charges.

Sahil Mohammad Hussain, a resident of Morbi in Gujarat who travelled to Russia on a student visa in 2024, claimed in the videos—shared by Ukrainian authorities—that Russian police falsely accused him of drug-related offences. He said authorities offered to drop the charges if he agreed to join the military.

Hussain described accepting the offer to avoid imprisonment, undergoing brief training of about 15 days, and being deployed to the front lines in Ukraine. Upon arrival, he immediately surrendered to Ukrainian troops.

In the recordings, Hussain urged young Indians considering opportunities in Russia to exercise extreme caution, warning of scammers who could frame them in false cases. "Be careful—there are many fraudsters here who can implicate you wrongly in drug cases," he said, adding that he felt hopeless but hoped to spread awareness.

He directly appealed to the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance in securing his safe return home, referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to India and requesting that the matter be discussed with him.

Ukrainian forces forwarded the videos to Hussain's mother in Gujarat, encouraging her to highlight cases of Indians being misled into Russian military service. She has subsequently filed a petition in a Delhi court seeking her son's repatriation, with the next hearing scheduled for February.

The Indian government has been addressing similar incidents involving its citizens recruited into the Russian armed forces. On December 5, during a briefing on Putin's state visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Prime Minister Modi raised the issue with the Russian leader. Misri emphasised ongoing efforts to facilitate the early discharge and return of affected Indians, while strongly advising citizens to avoid any offers of military service in Russia due to the associated risks.

Families of other Indians reportedly stranded or affected have held protests, calling for swift governmental intervention.

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