Ukrainian media has claimed that Majoti Sahil Mohammed, a 22-year-old Indian national who was allegedly recruited into the Russian army, has been captured by Ukrainian forces. The Indian Foreign Ministry has not confirmed this arrest. However he said the reports were being investigated. It is being told that Mohammad, a resident of Morbi, Gujarat, had gone to Russia for studies, but after being convicted in a drug-related case, he was forcibly recruited into the Russian Army. Let us tell you that in a video released by the Ukrainian 63rd Mechanized Brigade, Mohammed said that he was sentenced to seven years in prison, but in exchange for relief from his sentence, he was sent to war. He also said that he did not want to fight. He said that he had surrendered in Ukraine and now wanted to return to India. According to reports, Mohammed was promised freedom after one year of service and a payment ranging from 1 lakh to 15 lakh rubles, but he received neither money nor freedom.
Let us remind you that the Indian Foreign Ministry had confirmed only last month that 27 Indian citizens are still in the Russian army. He warned citizens not to fall into such temptation as it was a “life-threatening risk”.
If seen, this case is not just a personal tragedy of a young Indian; This is a glaring example of the failure of global geopolitics, economic despair and human rights. Sahil Mohammed’s story highlights the blurred lines of the Russia-Ukraine war where politics and pain have merged.
Russia has been suffering heavy losses of its soldiers for the last two years. Due to the prolongation of the war, the Russian Army had to lean towards foreign recruitment. Reports suggest that youth from Central Asia, South Asia and African countries are being called to Russia under the pretext of “work” or “education” and then thrown into the war. Indian students also getting trapped in this trap is the result of this global exploitation.
Majoti Sahil’s statement—“There is no truth there”—also symbolizes the brutality of Russia’s war machine. When a young man is given the “option” from prison to joining the army, it is actually a forced choice between punishment and death. This policy of Russia is a violation of international human rights treaties, which prohibit forcing detainees to perform any type of military service.
This is a diplomatic challenge for India. On the one hand, New Delhi wants to maintain its traditional defense ties with Russia; On the other hand, it is also responsible for the safety of its citizens. The absence of any formal communication from the Indian Embassy in Ukraine so far shows that communication between the two sides on this incident is limited. Nevertheless, India should take up this matter on humanitarian grounds, as it is not just a question of diplomacy but also of moral duty.
Another aspect of this incident is related to the economic and social insecurity of the youth of India. The desire to go abroad and start a new life in the name of education or work is still pushing many youth towards unknown risks. When state-level monitoring is weak, it opens up opportunities for brokers and fake agencies who lure them to the battlefield with the lure of “employment” or “stipends”.
Although the Government of India had issued timely warnings, the dissemination of information and awareness was not sufficient. What is now required is that the Ministry of External Affairs not only ensures the return of the 27 stranded Indians, but also formulates a solid international worker-protection policy, monitoring the actual situation of those going to study or work abroad.
If seen, this human dimension of the Russia-Ukraine war also teaches us that modern conflicts are no longer just a question of borders or ideology, they have now become a medium of economic inequality and global labor exploitation. When war begins to consume the lives of foreign students and migrant workers, it is not just a country’s defeat, but humanity’s defeat.
This case of Majoti Sahil Mohammed reminds us how deep the cry of one person can be, even in the noise of international politics. India will have to listen to this cry, not through diplomacy, but through compassion and determination.