Gujarat Student, Forced To Join Russian Army, Sends SOS Video From Ukraine

The student said he took a Russian deal to join their military in order to get rid of a false drugs case. After training for 15 days, the Russians sent him to the frontline, he said

21 Dec 2025, 16:39 · www.ndtv.com

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A Gujarat student in Russia was forced into the Russian military under a false drug case
He surrendered to Ukrainian forces after 15 days of training on the Russian frontline
The student urged the Indian government to negotiate with Vladimir Putin for his safe return

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New Delhi:

A young man from Gujarat, who went to Russia for studies on a student visa, has in a video message requested people not to join the Russian military under any circumstances.

He was allegedly forced to serve in the Russian military after being blackmailed with a false drugs case, he said.

The student, Sahil Mohammad Hussain, made the appeal in a video taken in Ukraine - where he has been kept after his capture by Ukrainian forces.

In the video shared by the Ukrainian authorities, Sahil Mohammad Hussain, who is from Gujarat's Morbi, asked the Indian government to help him return home. He said he had been working part time for a courier firm while studying in Russia.

He alleged the police in Russia falsely implicated him in a drug case, and promised to drop the case if he served in the Russian Army.

"President Vladimir Putin was in India recently. I would like to request the government to speak to Putin for my safe return home," he said.

In another video, he said he took the Russian deal in order to get rid of the false drugs case. After training for 15 days, the Russians sent him to the frontline, he said.

The first thing he did on reaching the frontline, Hussain said, was to surrender to the Ukrainian Army. The Ukrainian forces sent the videos to his mother in Gujarat and asked her to raise awareness about Indians being duped into serving in the Russian military.

She has filed a petition with a court in Delhi for her son's safe return. The next hearing is in February.

"I came to Russia for studies in 2024. But due to financial and visa issues, I came in touch with some Russians who turned out to be in narcotics... I have not done anything. At least 700 people were jailed by Russia on drugs charges. But the jail authorities gave them a choice of getting the charges dropped by joining the Russian military," the Indian student in an olive green jacket said in the video.

"I feel hopeless. I don't know what will happen. But I do have a message for young people who are coming to Russia, 'be careful'. There are many scamsters here who can falsely implicate you in a drug case," he said in the video.

"I would like to appeal to the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, please help," he added.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on December 5 said India is actively working to secure the release of its citizens who have joined the Russian armed forces, while urging caution to prevent further recruitment.

At a special briefing on the state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Misri said PM Modi raised the matter with the Russian President, underscoring that "our concerted efforts continue on a regular basis to secure the early release of Indian citizens from the Russian Army."

"This issue of the recruitment of Indian citizens into the Russian armed forces was broached by PM Modi," Misri added.

He cautioned Indian citizens against accepting offers to join the Russian military. "I would just take this opportunity to reiterate once again that our citizens should avoid very, very carefully any offers to join the Russian armed forces. We are seeing several cases of people stranded there, appealing to be rescued and brought out. As I said, we are actively engaged in that effort," he added.

Families of Indians stranded in Russia have been protesting, demanding the government's intervention to bring their loved ones back.

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