Ukraine has claimed to have captured an Indian national allegedly fighting for the Russian Army, a development that has prompted India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to initiate verification of the reports. The individual, identified by Ukrainian media as Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein, is reportedly a 22-year-old resident of Morbi, Gujarat.
According to a video released by Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanised Brigade, Hussein was seen stating that he had been sentenced to seven years in prison in Russia on drug-related charges, and was later recruited by the Russian military to avoid further imprisonment.
“I didn’t want to stay in prison, so I signed a contract for the ‘special military operation’. But I wanted to get out of there,” Hussein was heard saying in the video. He claimed that after 16 days of training, he was deployed on October 1 for his first combat mission. Following a disagreement with his commander, he allegedly surrendered to Ukrainian troops after approaching one of their positions unarmed.
Indian officials said they are still gathering information. “We are ascertaining the veracity of the report. We have not yet received any formal communication from the Ukrainian side in this regard,” MEA sources told NDTV.
Hussein further claimed that he never received the promised financial compensation for joining the Russian forces and expressed his unwillingness to return to Russia. “There is no truth there, nothing. I’d rather go to prison here (in Ukraine),” he reportedly said.
The development follows earlier reports of foreign nationals, including Indians, being recruited by Russian forces under the pretext of lucrative job offers or educational opportunities. In January 2025, the MEA confirmed that 12 Indian nationals had died fighting for Russia in Ukraine, while 16 others remained unaccounted for.
New Delhi has since taken up the matter strongly with Moscow, urging the early discharge and safe return of Indian citizens trapped in the ongoing conflict. India continues to maintain a neutral stance on the Russia–Ukraine war, calling for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution while refraining from joining international sanctions against Moscow.
