'I needed help': Indian student joins Russia's war to avoid jail in drug case; then surrenders to Ukraine

A 22-year-old Indian national, who went to Russia to study, has been captured by Ukrainian forces after being forced into combat for the Russian army.

Ukraine’s defence ministry shared on Telegram: "They took a 22-year-old… Indian prisoner! Majoti voluntarily told his story. He studied in Russia, but got caught with drugs. And in order not to go to prison, he went to war."

According to the Kyiv Independent, Majoti told the Ukrainian defence forces: "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."

Also read| 'Fraught with danger': MEA on Indians recruited into Russian army

After 16 days of training, he was sent on his first combat mission on 1 October, which lasted three days. Following a conflict with his commander, he surrendered to Ukrainian troops of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade.

He described the moment: "I came across a Ukrainian trench position about 2-3 kilometres (1-2 miles) away. I immediately put down my rifle and said that I didn't want to fight. I needed help."

Majoti added: "I don't want to go back to Russia. There is no truth there, nothing. I'd rather go to prison here (in Ukraine)." He also claimed he never received the promised financial compensation for joining the Russian army.

The Indian Mission in Kyiv is investigating the reports, sources told ANI.

"It has not yet received any formal communication from the Ukrainian side in this regard," the source told ANI.

In September, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) had raised concerns over the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian armed forces. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said: "We have seen reports about Indian nationals having been recruited recently into the Russian army. Government has on several occasions over the past one year underlined the risks and dangers inherent in this course of action and cautioned Indian citizens accordingly."

He added: "We have also taken up the matter with Russian authorities, both in Delhi and Moscow, asking that this practice be ended and that our nationals be released. We are also in touch with the families of the affected Indian citizens."

This case follows reports of two other Indian men allegedly lured to Russia under the pretext of construction jobs, only to be deployed on the frontlines.

Also read: ‘Forced into Russian Army’, Haryana youth’s last SOS

Families from villages in Fatehabad, Haryana, claimed their relatives were misled into signing papers in Russian, forced into army uniforms, and sent to Ukraine after minimal training. One youth, Ankit Jangra, told his brother via Telegram that he would be moved to the war zone and lose phone access. Videos have surfaced of several Indian youths appearing terrified and alleging they were coerced into fighting.