Indian Student Joins Russian Army While Facing Drug Charges, Claims Family

Mon Oct 20 2025 22:33:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Sahil Majothi, a 22-year-old Indian student, was captured by Ukraine while allegedly fighting for Russian forces. His mother asserts he joined the military to escape a drug charge in Russia.

Sahil Majothi, an Indian student studying in Russia, was captured by Ukrainian forces while allegedly fighting for the Russian military. His mother claims he was falsely accused of drug charges in April 2024, leading him to join the army as an escape from imprisonment. The Indian foreign ministry is investigating the case, while local community leaders are urging the government to assist in securing Majothi's return amidst rising concerns about Indian nationals enlisting in the Russian military.

Ukraine has captured an Indian national allegedly fighting for Russian forces, marking the first known Indian detained in the ongoing war.

Sahil Majothi, 22, from Gujarat, had gone to Russia to study computer engineering two years prior. His mother alleges he was wrongfully accused in a drug case last April, which led him to join the Russian army to avoid jail time.

The Indian foreign ministry says it is looking into the situation but has yet to receive formal communication from Ukraine. Meanwhile, the BBC has reached out to the Russian government for comment.

In an interview, Majothi's mother, Hasina Majothi, mentioned that her son traveled to Russia for studies in January 2024, completing a language course before enrolling in college. He supported himself through part-time work but was caught up in an alleged drug incident that led to police charges.

According to Ms. Majothi, her son was held for six months and sentenced to seven years in prison. The family, struggling financially, hired a private lawyer without clarity on how he was later drafted into the military.

In a video released by Ukraine's army, Majothi claims he was coerced into joining the military as an alternative to serving his sentence, promising payment for his service. He underwent limited training before being deployed to the battlefield.

After the video surfaced, local authorities in Gujarat questioned Majothi's family to gather more information about his situation.

Community leaders are expressing their concerns about young Indians getting drawn into the conflict, with reports indicating that many Indian nationals have enlisted in the Russian military under various pretenses. The Indian government has advised its citizens to refrain from participating in the war.

This troubling scenario underlines the urgent need for intervention, as families seek to understand and resolve the plight of their loved ones tangled in international conflicts.