From Gujarat To Russian Prison, Then Ukraine Frontline: Indian Student’s Shocking 7-Year Prison Escape | World News
Kyiv/New Delhi: Reports of Indians fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine frequently emerge. One such case attracted attention when it was reported that an Indian surrendered to Ukrainian forces after a brief stay with Russian troops.
The Ukrainian 63rd Mechanized Brigade released a video purportedly showing a man identifying himself as Majoti Sahil Mohammed Hussein from Gujarat. The Ukrainian military claimed he joined the Russian army to avoid a seven-year prison sentence in a Ukrainian drug trafficking case, but he laid down his arms after only three days of fighting.
In the 1.45-minute video clip shared on Telegram, the man wearing a red T-shirt can be seen speaking Russian and telling about his journey.
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India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was investigating the matter. “We are verifying the authenticity of this report. No official update has been received from Ukrainian authorities so far,” the MEA spokesperson said.
Who is Sahil Muhammed Hussein?
The 22-year-old hails from Morbi in Gujarat. He went to Russia to pursue higher education and enrolled at a local university. During his stay there, he was allegedly involved in a drug trafficking case and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Since he did not want to serve his sentence, he looked for an alternative.
During the same period, the Russian military was recruiting individuals to participate in an ongoing “special military operation” in exchange for tolerance. Hussein signed a contract that allowed him to avoid prison time to serve with Russian forces.
From Prison to Battlefield
In the video that went viral, Hussein said, “I first came to Russia to study at university. I was imprisoned for drug trafficking and sentenced to seven years in prison. I didn’t want to stay in prison, so I signed a contract to participate in a special military operation. This was my way out.”
The contract required him to fight alongside Russian forces for a year and then be sent back to India. Hussain added, “When I signed the contract, some said I would get one lakh rubles, some 10 lakhs, others 15 lakhs. But I didn’t get anything.”
He said he received only 16 days of basic military training before being sent to the front on October 1. He soon argued with his commander and decided to surrender.
“I reached the Ukrainian trench position, about 2-3 kilometers away, I put down my gun and said I didn’t want to fight. I need help. I didn’t hurt anyone. I came here three days ago. I don’t want war, I just want to leave,” he said.
Hussein also told Ukrainian forces, “I do not want to return to Russia. You can keep me here if necessary, but if possible, please send me to India.”
Ukrainian officials confirmed that fear and exhaustion caused Hussein to surrender.
Indian Mission Active in Kiev
Sources in New Delhi confirmed that Indian officials in Kiev had confirmed the report. “We are in the process of verifying the accuracy of this report. No official communication has been received from Ukraine so far,” MEA said.
Earlier this year, the Indian government warned citizens about the risks of joining the Russian military. In January, MEA reported that 126 Indians were misled into Russia. Of these, 96 returned safely, 12 died and 16 are missing.
Students caught in the crossfire
Many students from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh who went to Russia for education were reportedly forced to fight. Sandeep Kumar, 29, from Taimurpur village of Rohtak, Haryana, went to Russia on an education visa. His mother told the media that he had illegally enlisted in the Russian army.
“He went to Russia for training on September 23, 2024. He was not given any training. He was sent directly to the Russia-Ukraine border to fight. His passport and phone were taken. He went to study, not to fight.”
Statement from MEA on Indian Citizens in the Russian Army
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that around 27 Indian citizens have recently enrolled in the Russian army. “We learned that more Indian citizens were recruited through their families. We raised this issue seriously during our mission in Russia. We asked the authorities in Moscow to ensure the repatriation of our citizens as soon as possible. About 27 Indians are involved in this incident and we are making every effort to bring them back,” he said.
The Russia-Ukraine war started on February 24, 2022 and continues today. India maintained neutrality and advocated diplomacy and dialogue regarding military intervention.
