An Indian student conscripted into the Russian army. He wanted to avoid punishment for drugs
According to the BBC, Sahil Majothi went to Russia two years ago to study computer engineering. In 2024, according to his mother, he was falsely accused of drug possession. The man from Gujarat went to the front and from there to Ukrainian captivity.
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The 22-year-old's mother, Hasina Majothi, explained in an interview with the BBC that her son left for Saint Petersburg in January 2024, where he completed a three-month language course. He then moved to Moscow to continue his studies, and in the meantime he worked as a courier. According to the woman, in April someone allegedly planted drugs in a package she was delivering, which led to his arrest by the police.
He went to study, Russia sent him to the front. He wanted to avoid prison
According to the BBC, the man's family was not informed about his detention and did not know what was happening to him. As Hasina Majothi revealed, she learned about her son's fate only from a video published by the 63rd Mechanized Brigade. In the recording, the student claims that he was given a choice between service and prison. Majothi indicates that his service was to last only one year, and several people promised him a salary of PLN 100,000. up to 1 million rubles, but he did not receive any money.
According to the BBC's findings, Majothi underwent 15-day military training in September 2024, and was sent to the front a year later, on September 30. The very next day, the 22-year-old had an argument with his commander, and during the first attack he separated from his unit, then came across a trench and asked the Ukrainian military for help.
The arrest and conscription of Sahil Majothi into the army is part of the broader problem of recruiting Indians into the Russian army. According to the BBC, more than 150 Indian citizens have enlisted in the army, often staying in Russia on student or tourist visas. At least 12 of them were killed in the conflict and 16 are missing.
In September, Indian authorities asked Moscow to release and repatriate 27 Indian citizens conscripted into the Russian army. The Indian government has consistently discouraged its citizens from participating in the war in Ukraine. A spokesman for the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed last month that serving in the Russian army involves serious risks and threats to life.
