In brief
Sahil Majothi, an Indian national and student, was captured by Ukrainian forces while allegedly fighting for Russia. His mother claims he joined the army to escape prison after being falsely accused of drug-related offenses. The Indian government is investigating the case while concerns rise over citizens being recruited amidst the Ukraine conflict.
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 the Indian state of Gujarat, went to Russia to study computer engineering two years ago. His mother claims he was falsely accused in a drug case last April.
Mr Majothi joined the Russian army to avoid imprisonment over drug charges, according to a video released by Ukraine's army.
The Indian foreign ministry says it is investigating the case and has not received formal communication from Ukraine. The BBC has asked the Russian government for a response.
In an interview with BBC Gujarati, Mr Majothi's mother Hasina Majothi said her son had gone to Russia in January 2024. He completed a three-month language course in St Petersburg before moving to Moscow for college, supporting himself part-time as a kitchenware courier.
She alleges that in April 2024, someone slipped drugs into a parcel handed to Mr Majothi during his deliveries. The police caught him with it and charged him, Ms Hasina stated.
According to Ms Hasina, her son was detained, held for six months, and later sentenced to seven years in prison. The family hired a private lawyer in Russia to defend him, but they had no idea when or how he was drafted into the military.
I don't know how he ended up in Ukraine. I only found out through the viral video, she said.
In the video, Mr Majothi can be heard saying he was given a choice between joining the Russian army for pay or serving jail time. He claimed he underwent 15 days of training in September 2024 before being sent to the battlefield on 30 September.
After an altercation with his commander, he separated from Russian soldiers and sought help from Ukrainian forces, he added.
The BBC cannot independently verify the date or location of the video. On Wednesday, after it went viral, Gujarat's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) questioned Ms Hasina and her brother in Ahmedabad.
Mr Majothi's arrest has raised alarms about young Indians being recruited into the Russian military. At least 150 Indians, some on student or visitor visas, have reported joining the military, with a number falling victim to the conflict.
The Indian government has advised its citizens against participating in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
