Indian student fighting for Russia military surrenders to Ukrainian forces

New Delhi: Ukrainian military said that an Indian student who was fighting alongside the Russian military surrendered to Ukrainian forces on Tuesday, according to PTI.

A video of Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein who hails from Gujarat has been shared by the 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian military.

According to PTI, the veracity of the report is being ascertained by the Indian embassy in Kyiv.

PTI quoted Ukrainian newspaper The Kyiv Independent saying that 22-year-old Hussein came to Russia to study.

Hussein in the video said that he was awarded a seven-year imprisonment in Russia due to drug-related charges after which he was offered a contract with the Russian military.

Hussein said, "I didn't want to stay in prison, so I signed a contract for the special military operation. But I wanted to get out of there."

He was sent to his first combat mission on October 1 after getting a 16-day training.

He said, ""I came across a Ukrainian trench position about two to three kilometres away."

"I immediately put down my rifle and said that I didn't want to fight. I needed help. I don't want to go back to Russia," he added.

The Ministry of External Affairs has earlier said that India had strongly called upon Russia to release and repatriate 27 Indian nationals currently serving with the Russian Army.

According to reports cited by PTI, Indians on student and business visas are being forced into joining Russian military units deployed on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine.

The issue was raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Russia last year as well.

According to PTI, official data says thta the number of Indians recruited by the Russian military is now more than 150.

At least 12 Indians were killed while fighting on the frontlines of the conflict in Ukraine, while 96 were discharged by Russian authorities.

Another 16 have been listed as missing.