A cancer-stricken mother from Gujarat is continuing her legal battle to bring home her 22-year-old son, who was reportedly recruited into the Russian military during the Russia-Ukraine conflict and is now being held by Ukrainian authorities after surrendering.
The case has drawn attention to the plight of Indian nationals who travelled to Russia for work or education but later found themselves caught in the ongoing war.
High Court directs Centre to act
The Delhi High Court had directed the Central Government to take urgent steps to facilitate the return of Sahil Mahmad Husen Majothi, a student from Gujarat’s Morbi district.
While hearing a petition filed by his mother, Hasinaben Samsudinbhai Majothi, Justice Sachin Datta observed that the student appeared to have been compelled to serve in the Russian military and asked the government to make every possible effort to bring him back.
The court also directed the Centre to appoint a liaison officer to coordinate with Ukrainian authorities and seek consular access to the student.
Student reportedly joined Russian military after arrest
According to the petition, Sahil travelled to St. Petersburg in January 2024 on a student visa to pursue Russian Language and Culture studies at ITMO University.
His family alleges that while working part-time, he was arrested in connection with a narcotics case and was later pressured into signing a military contract while in custody.
He was subsequently deployed to the battlefield in Ukraine, where he later surrendered to Ukrainian forces, maintaining that he had never intended to participate in the conflict and only wished to return to India.
Videos released by Ukrainian authorities and later shared with his family reportedly showed Sahil appealing to the Indian government for help and warning others to be cautious of fraudulent recruitment offers.
Mother seeks humanitarian intervention
Hasinaben, who is undergoing treatment for cancer and also suffers from heart-related ailments, has appealed for her only son’s safe return.
Her legal representatives have also written to Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, requesting his repatriation on humanitarian grounds.
According to the Central Government, 217 Indian nationals joined the Russian military during the conflict. Of them, 49 have died, six remain missing, while the whereabouts of 23 others have not been confirmed by Russian authorities.
The government said diplomatic efforts are continuing to secure the release of Sahil and other affected Indian nationals
