In Video From Ukraine, Gujarat Student Claims He Was Blackmailed Into Joining Russian Army

An Indian student from Gujarat appealed to others not to join the Russian military on Saturday, saying he was forced into service after being falsely implicated in a drugs case. Sahil Mohammad Hussain,

from Morbi in Gujarat, travelled to Russia on a student visa to pursue his studies. In a video message recorded in Ukraine and shared by Ukrainian authorities, he said he was blackmailed into joining the Russian army and later captured by Ukrainian forces. In the video, Hussain asked the Indian government to help secure his return home. He said he had been working part-time for a courier company while studying in Russia when he was allegedly framed by Russian police in a drugs case. "They told me the case would be dropped if I joined the Russian Army," he said.Also Read: Uttarakhand Man’s Studying In Russia Dream Turns Into War Zone Ordeal Hussain said he agreed to the deal to escape the charges. After about 15 days of training, he was sent to the frontline in Ukraine, he said. "The first thing I did when I reached the frontline was surrender to the Ukrainian Army," he added. The Ukrainian military later sent the video messages to his mother in Gujarat and asked her to raise awareness about Indians being deceived into military service. She has since filed a petition in a Delhi court seeking her son’s safe return. The next hearing is scheduled for February. In another video, Hussain said he came to Russia in 2024 but ran into financial and visa problems. "I came in touch with some Russians who turned out to be in narcotics. I have not done anything," he said, adding that at least 700 people had been jailed in Russia on drugs charges and then offered the option of having their cases dropped if they joined the military.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bBFBMrEBWE

"I feel hopeless. I don’t know what will happen," he said. Addressing young people planning to travel to Russia, he warned: "Be careful. There are many scamsters here who can falsely implicate you in a drug case." Appealing to the Indian government, he said: "President Vladimir Putin was in India recently. I would like to request the government to speak to Putin for my safe return home." He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri had said on December 5 that New Delhi was actively working to secure the release of Indian citizens who had joined the Russian armed forces, while also urging people to avoid such offers. "At the state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, this issue of the recruitment of Indian citizens into the Russian armed forces was broached by PM Modi," Misri had said, adding that "our concerted efforts continue on a regular basis to secure the early release of Indian citizens from the Russian Army". He warned Indian nationals to exercise extreme caution. "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," he said. Families of Indians stranded in Russia have staged protests in recent months, demanding government action to bring their relatives home.