Ukraine has captured a 22-year-old Indian student allegedly fighting for Russian forces, marking the first known case of an Indian national detained in the ongoing war. The student, identified as Sahil Majothi from Gujarat, reportedly joined the Russian army to escape imprisonment over a drug-related case.
According to a video released by Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanized Brigade, Majothi claimed he was given a choice between serving a jail term or joining the Russian military. He chose the latter, hoping to earn money and secure his release after a year of service.
His mother, Hasina Majothi, told BBC Gujarati that her son had gone to Russia in January 2024 to study computer engineering. After completing a short language course in St Petersburg, he moved to Moscow and worked part-time as a courier. However, in April 2024, he was allegedly framed when someone slipped drugs into a parcel he was delivering.
Hasina said her son was detained, held for six months, and sentenced to seven years in prison. She added that the family had no knowledge of how he ended up being drafted into the Russian army. “I only found out through the viral video,” she said.
Majothi stated in the video that he received only 15 days of military training in September 2024 before being sent to the frontlines. A day after arriving in Ukraine, he separated from his Russian unit following an altercation and surrendered to Ukrainian forces.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed it is investigating the case but has not received formal communication from Ukraine. The incident comes amid growing concerns over reports that more than 150 Indians have been recruited into the Russian military, with at least 12 deaths reported so far.
Indian authorities continue to urge citizens to avoid joining foreign armed conflicts, citing severe risks to life and safety.
