Ukrainian forces have captured a 22-year-old Indian student who alleges he was coerced into fighting for the Russian army to avoid a lengthy prison sentence following drug charges.
Sahil Majothi, a computer engineering student from Gujarat, has become the first known Indian citizen to be detained in the ongoing war.
According to a video released by Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanised Brigade, Majothi claims he was given an ultimatum by Russian authorities – enlist in the army or serve a seven-year jail term on drug charges his family insist were fabricated.
The student’s mother, Hasina Majothi, told BBC Gujarati that her son had travelled to Russia in January 2024 to pursue his college education. He completed a three-month language course in St Petersburg before moving to Moscow for college.
While he was working part-time as a delivery driver, she alleges that in April 2024 drugs were planted in a parcel he was carrying, leading to his arrest.
His mother said her son was detained, held for six months and later sentenced to seven years behind bars before the family hired a private lawyer in Russia to defend him.
But they were completely unaware that Majothi had been drafted into the Russian military after they lost contact with him following his sentencing.
‘I don’t know how he ended up in Ukraine. I only found out through the viral video,’ Hasina told the news channel.
Sahil Majothi, a computer engineering student from Gujarat, has become the first known Indian citizen to be detained in the Ukraine-Russia war
In his testimony, Majothi stated he had received just 15 days of military training before being deployed to the battlefield on September 30.
He claims he was separated from his unit after an altercation with his commander the following day.
That was when he came across a Ukrainian dugout and asked them for help, he could be heard saying in the clip, before ultimately surrendering.
On Wednesday, after the video went viral, Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) questioned Hasina and her brother in Ahmedabad, western India.
ATS officials confirmed Majothi’s arrest and subsequent detention in Russia. They said the family claimed to have had no contact with him since his arrest.
The case has drawn the attention of Indian authorities, with the Foreign Ministry confirming it is now investigating the case.
At his former school in Morbi, Gujarat, teachers who spoke to the news channel anonymously, described Majothi as an ‘average student’ who was motivated to fulfil his mother’s dreams through his education.
Local community leaders have also appealed to the government to intervene and secure his return.
‘Many young men like him have been trapped and dragged into the war,’ said Kasam Sumra, a community leader who has known the family for several years.
According to a video released by Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanised Brigade, Majothi claims he was given an ultimatum by Russian authorities – enlist in the army or serve a seven-year jail term on drug charges his family insist were fabricated
His mother said her son was detained, held for six months and later sentenced to seven years behind bars before the family hired a private lawyer in Russia to defend him
‘We appeal to the government to bring back Sahil and other young Indians who went abroad seeking work.’
Majothi’s case has also underscored a growing concern over the recruitment of Inidan nationals into the Russian military.
Reports have suggested that over 150 Indians may have enlisted, often on student or visitor visas, with at least 12 confirmed fatalities.
In September, Indian officials urged Moscow to release and repatriate 27 Indian nationals who had been recruited into the army.
Last month, the Indian government issued a renewed advisory, ‘strongly urging all Indian nationals to stay away from offers to serve in the Russian army, as they are fraught with danger and risk to life.’
