Kyiv: The Ukrainian military has claimed the capture of a 22-year-old Indian national who reportedly joined the Russian army but surrendered to Ukrainian forces after fighting on the frontline for just three days.
The 63rd Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine posted a video on its official Telegram channel, stating that the individual was taken into custody. The man was identified as Majoti Sahil Muhammad Hussain, a resident of Morbi district in Gujarat, India.
In the video, Hussain explains that he initially traveled to Russia for education but was arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to seven years in prison. He claims Russian authorities offered him a choice to serve in the military instead of imprisonment, which he accepted.
According to Hussain, he received only 16 days of basic military training before being deployed to the frontline in Ukraine on October 1st. After just three days, following a confrontation, he reportedly rebelled against his Russian commander and surrendered himself to Ukrainian troops. He stated that he walked up to Ukrainian trenches and laid down his weapon, hoping for asylum.
He also alleged that the Russian authorities did not pay him the promised salary and that he prefers to remain in Ukraine rather than return to Russia.
According to sources at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian embassy in Kyiv is investigating the matter. However, Ukrainian officials have yet to provide any formal confirmation.
