Indian student fighting for Russia surrenders to Ukrainian Army; Seeks help

A 22-year-old Indian student from Gujarat, recruited into the Russian army, surrendered to Ukrainian forces. He cited pressure and fear as reasons. The Indian Embassy is investigating the case amid growing concerns over Indians in conflict zones.

New Delhi: A shocking incident has emerged in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. An Indian citizen, who was fighting on the Russian side, has surrendered to the Ukrainian army.

The Ukrainian Army's 63rd Mechanized Brigade shared this information on its Telegram channel and released a video in which the Indian youth identified himself as Majoti Sahil Mohammad Hussain, a resident of Gujarat.

Who is Sahil Mohammad Hussain?

According to Ukrainian media reports and videos:

Age: 22 years old

Background: He went to study at a university in Russia.

There, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for a drug-related offense. To avoid prison, he signed a contract with the Russian army and agreed to participate in a "special military operation."

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Sent to war after training

Hussain stated: He underwent 16 days of military training. His first combat mission began on October 1st and lasted three days. During this period, he had a fight with his commander. He then approached Ukrainian troops and surrendered, laying down his arms.

He said: "I didn't want to fight. I put down my rifle and asked for help. I don't want to go back to Russia." The Indian Embassy is investigating the matter.

So far, there has been no official statement from the Indian government on this matter. However, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv is investigating the veracity of this news and is awaiting formal information from Ukrainian authorities.

A similar case had surfaced before

It is noteworthy that the Indian government previously stated that India had requested Russia to repatriate 27 Indian citizens serving in the Russian army. These individuals were mostly recruited as support staff (such as cooks or helpers).

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India has consistently demanded that Indian citizens be evacuated from such conflict zones. This case not only highlights the humanitarian challenges of the Russia-Ukraine war, but also shows how young Indians who go abroad to study or work can find themselves in unexpected circumstances. The government and families should be vigilant in this regard.