**Indian National Fighting for Russia Captured by Ukrainian Forces, Claims Coercion**
Ukrainian military forces have captured an Indian national who was fighting for Russia. The man alleged that Russian authorities pulled him from jail and forced him into the war with promises of freedom and money. He reportedly did not want to remain behind bars and hoped to escape once deployed to the front lines.
The captured individual has been identified as Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein. He hails from Morbi in Gujarat and had originally come to Russia to study at a university.
According to Fighters of Ukraine’s 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Majoti was taken prisoner while serving in Russia’s 3rd Army Corps. The Brigade shared a video clip featuring an interview with him.
In the interview, Majoti revealed that he had been sentenced to seven years in a Russian prison on drug-related charges. He was then offered the opportunity to sign a contract with the Russian military to avoid further punishment.
In September, Majoti underwent 16 days of military training which, according to him, included basic rifle handling, grenade usage, and shooting practice. “I didn’t want to stay in prison, so I signed a contract for the ‘special military operation’,” Russia’s term for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Majoti explained. “But I wanted to get out of there.”
He further described how he encountered a Ukrainian trench position about 2-3 kilometers (1-2 miles) away and immediately surrendered. “I put down my rifle and said that I didn’t want to fight. I needed help,” he said.
Majoti was sent on his first combat mission on October 1, where he spent three days. Following an altercation with his commander, he surrendered to Ukrainian troops from the 63rd Mechanized Brigade.
He also claimed that, despite promises of payment for joining the Russian military, he never received any money.
Reports indicate that at least 12 Indian nationals have been killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, while 16 remain missing, according to Deutsche Welle as of February 11.
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*This story highlights the complex and often coercive circumstances faced by foreign nationals caught up in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/video-22-yr-old-gujarat-student-narrates-ordeal-after-being-captured-by-ukraine-while-fighting-for-russia
