A 22-year-old student from Morbi district in Gujarat has sent an SOS message from Ukraine, claiming he was forced to join the Russian Army after being falsely accused in a drug-related case.
Sahil Mohammad Hussain shared his story through video messages released by Ukrainian authorities, appealing to the Indian government to step in and ensure his safe return to India.
Hussain said he went to Russia in 2024 to pursue higher education and took up a part-time job with a courier company to support himself. However, visa issues and rising expenses made his stay difficult, leaving him vulnerable, he alleged.
‘Join the Army or Go to Jail’
According to Hussain, Russian police falsely accused him of involvement in a narcotics case despite his repeated claims of innocence. In his video, he said officials told him the charges would be dropped if he agreed to enlist in the Russian Army. Facing the threat of imprisonment, he claimed he had no choice but to accept.
Hussain further alleged that after only about 15 days of training, he was sent to the frontline in Ukraine. “The moment I reached the frontline, I surrendered to the Ukrainian Army,” he said.
Warning to Indian Youth
In another video message, Hussain said his case was not an isolated incident. He alleged that at least 700 people in Russia had been jailed on drug charges and later offered freedom in exchange for joining the military.
“I feel hopeless and don’t know what will happen,” he said, urging young Indians to be extremely cautious while travelling to Russia. He warned that many scammers could falsely implicate people in drug cases.
Mother Approaches Delhi Court
The Ukrainian military later forwarded Hussain’s video messages to his mother in Gujarat and encouraged her to spread awareness about Indians being misled into military service. She has since approached a Delhi court, filing a petition seeking her son’s safe return. The next hearing is scheduled for February.
The Indian government has acknowledged concerns about Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian armed forces under questionable circumstances. On December 5, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India is actively working to bring back its citizens while also urging caution to prevent further such cases.
“I appeal to the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to please help me,” Hussain said in his message.