Student joins Russian army to avoid drug charges, mother claims
Ukrainian forces have captured a 22-year-old Indian student who claimed he was forced to fight for the Russian army to avoid a long prison sentence following drug charges.
Sahil Majothi, a computer engineering student from Gujarat, became the first known Indian citizen to be detained in the ongoing war.
According to a video released by Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanized Brigade, Majothi claims he was given an ultimatum by Russian authorities: Either enlist in the army or be sentenced to seven years in prison on drug charges that his family claims are trumped up.
The student’s mother, Hasina Majothi, told BBC Gujarati that her son went to Russia in January 2024 to continue his university studies. Before moving to Moscow for university, he studied in St. He completed a three-month language course in St. Petersburg.
He claims that while he was working part-time as a delivery driver, drugs were planted in a package he was carrying in April 2024, leading to his arrest.
His mother said her son was taken into custody, held in custody for six months and later sentenced to seven years behind bars before the family hired a private lawyer in Russia to defend him.
However, they were completely unaware that Majothi had been drafted into the Russian army after losing contact with him following his sentence.
‘I don’t know how he got to Ukraine. “I only came to know about this through the viral video,” Hasina told the news channel.
Sahil Majothi, a computer engineering student from Gujarat, became the first known Indian citizen to be detained in the Ukraine-Russia war.
In his statement, Majothi stated that he received only 15 days of military training before being sent to the battlefield on September 30.
He claims that he left his unit the next day after an argument with his commander.
That’s when he came across a Ukrainian bunker and asked for their help, he can be heard saying in the clip, before eventually surrendering.
On Wednesday, after the video went viral, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) interrogated Hasina and her brother in Ahmedabad in western India.
ATS officials confirmed that Majothi was arrested and subsequently detained in Russia. They said the family claimed to have had no contact with him since his arrest.
The case caught the attention of Indian authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it was currently investigating the incident.
Speaking anonymously to the news channel at his former school in Morbi, Gujarat, teachers described Majothi as an ‘average student’ who was motivated to fulfill his mother’s dreams through his education.
Local community leaders also called on the government to intervene and secure his return.
‘Many young men like him were trapped and dragged into the war,’ said community leader Kasam Sumra, who has known the family for several years.
According to a video released by Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanized Brigade, Majothi claims he was given an ultimatum by Russian authorities: Either enlist in the army or be sentenced to seven years in prison on drug charges that his family claims are trumped up.
His mother said her son was taken into custody, held in custody for six months and later sentenced to seven years behind bars before the family hired a private lawyer in Russia to defend him.
‘We call on the government to bring back Sahil and other young Indians who have gone abroad in search of work.’
Majothi’s case also highlighted growing concerns about the recruitment of Inidan citizens into the Russian army.
Reports suggest that more than 150 Indians may have been recruited, mostly on student or visitor visas, and at least 12 fatalities have been confirmed.
In September, Indian officials called on Moscow to release 27 Indian nationals recruited into the army and repatriate them.
Last month, the Indian government issued a renewed advisory ‘strongly encouraging all Indian citizens to stay away from offers to serve in the Russian army as they are fraught with danger and risk to life.’
