A 22-year-old Indian national, identified as Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein, who was allegedly fighting for the Russian army, has been reportedly captured by Ukrainian forces. As reported by The Kyiv Independent, Hussein went to Russia to earn a degree at a university and was enlisted by the Russian army to fight against Ukraine.
However, Indian authorities have not confirmed Hussein’s detention and have said they were working to verify Ukrainian media reports that claim he is Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein. As per the reports of NDTV World, Hussein was seen in a video recorded by the Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanized Brigade, in which he was heard claiming that he was sentenced to seven years in prison on drug-related charges in Russia.
In yet another video, which was released by the brigade and is making rounds on social media, Hussein is depicted admitting in Russian that he had joined the Russian army to avoid a prison sentence.
A video released by the brigade, now circulating on social media, shows Hussein speaking in Russian and admitting he had joined the Russian army to avoid a prison sentence.
“I didn’t want to stay in prison, so I signed a contract for the ‘special military operation,'” he says in the clip, using Moscow’s term for its invasion of Ukraine. “But I wanted to get out of there,” he said.
The video further reveals that Hussein received 16 days of basic training before he was sent to the front lines on October 1. “I immediately put down my rifle and said I didn’t want to fight. “I needed help,” he said, as quoted by the PTI.
Furthermore, Hussein says he never received the payment he was promised and has expressed a firm refusal to return to Russia. “There is no truth there, nothing,” he said. “I’d rather go to prison here (in Ukraine).”
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Indian nationals, including students and migrant workers, have been recruited, misled, or coerced into joining Russian forces.
