Gujarat Student Forced into Russian Army Appeals to PM Modi for Help in SOS Video

A student from Gujarat, currently in Ukrainian custody, has made an urgent appeal to the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance in securing his safe return. The young man revealed that he was forced to join the Russian army and had previously been falsely implicated in a drug-related case.

SOS from Ukraine
The student, Sahil Mohammad Hussain, hailing from Morbi district in Gujarat, shared the video through Ukrainian authorities. He explained that he had gone to Russia on a student visa, where he was pursuing his studies and working part-time at a courier firm. Sahil revealed that to clear a fabricated drug case against him, he was coerced into joining the Russian military. After completing 15 days of training, he was sent to the frontline, where he ultimately surrendered to the Ukrainian forces.

In the video, Sahil urged others not to fall into similar traps and warned students against joining the Russian military under any circumstances. This case had come to light roughly two months ago.

Deal to Withdraw Charges
Sahil explained that the Russian police had falsely accused him in a drugs case and promised that the charges would be dropped if he joined the military. He expressed his hope that the Indian government would negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin for his safe return. Ukrainian authorities shared the video with Sahil’s mother in Gujarat, urging the family to raise awareness about the deceptive tactics used to recruit Indians into the Russian military.

Sahil comes from a modest family, and his parents have filed a petition in a Delhi court seeking his safe repatriation. The next hearing is scheduled for February. He had gone to Russia in 2024 for his studies but faced financial and visa challenges, which led him into the hands of individuals involved in narcotics. He emphasized that he had committed no crime and highlighted that Russia had jailed at least 700 people under fabricated drug charges, offering military service as a way to clear the charges.

Appeal to PM Modi
In his video message, Sahil Mohammad Hussain appealed directly to the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi for urgent intervention. Reports confirm that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated on 5 December that India is actively working to secure the release of citizens involved in the Russian armed forces. Misri added that PM Modi had raised Sahil’s case with President Putin, and efforts to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens from the Russian army are ongoing and continuous.