A 23-year-old man from the Morbi district of Gujarat, who is in ‘captivity’ in Ukraine for reportedly participating in the war for Russia, has appealed for help from the Indian government for his release. His appeal came in a latest video message sent to his family, who also cautioned Indians from scammers while going to Russia for studies or work.&nbsp;Sahil Mohamed Hussein Majothi, a resident of Morbi’s Kalika Plot area, came into the spotlight after Ukrainian authorities released a video earlier this month showing him surrendering to their forces.&nbsp;Majothi had travelled to St Petersburg on January 10, 2024, on a student visa to study Russian Language and Culture at ITMO University. He was later allegedly implicated in a police case, jailed, and reportedly compelled to join the battlefield to fight for Russia, where he was eventually captured by Ukrainian troops.<h3>Appeals to PM Modi for rescue</h3>In a video message that the family received on Sunday night, claiming it to have been shared by ‘Ukrainian authorities’, Sahil says, “Right now I am stuck in Ukraine as a war criminal. Now I am hopeless, I don’t know what will happen in future. But I want to send a message to my Indian citizens. Those Indians coming to Russia for higher studies or work, be careful because there are so many scammers here. You may be trapped in criminal cases, narcotics cases, or illegal cases, so take care of yourself. As far as possible, stay away from all this.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH | Gujarat student forced to join Russian army, sends SOS video from Ukraine. The student has been identified as Sahil Mohammad Hussain. <a href="https://t.co/QcDsjWONaz">pic.twitter.com/QcDsjWONaz</a>&mdash; The Tatva (@thetatvaindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/thetatvaindia/status/2002967630827975014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He also appealed to the Indian govt and said, “I appeal to the Indian government, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and S Jaishankar (Minister of External Affairs), if possible, please help.”.&nbsp;While the video messages do not specify when they were recorded, one of them seems to be a recent one, as Sahil can be heard referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit on December 4 and 5.

Sahil Mohamed Hussein Majothi, a resident of Morbi’s Kalika Plot area, came into the spotlight after Ukrainian authorities released a video earlier this month showing him surrendering to their forces.

A 23-year-old man from the Morbi district of Gujarat, who is in ‘captivity’ in Ukraine for reportedly participating in the war for Russia, has appealed for help from the Indian government for his release. His appeal came in a latest video message sent to his family, who also cautioned Indians from scammers while going to Russia for studies or work. Sahil Mohamed Hussein Majothi, a resident of Morbi’s Kalika Plot area, came into the spotlight after Ukrainian authorities released a video earlier this month showing him surrendering to their forces. Majothi had travelled to St Petersburg on January 10, 2024, on a student visa to study Russian Language and Culture at ITMO University. He was later allegedly implicated in a police case, jailed, and reportedly compelled to join the battlefield to fight for Russia, where he was eventually captured by Ukrainian troops. Appeals to PM Modi for rescue In a video message that the family received on Sunday night, claiming it to have been shared by ‘Ukrainian authorities’, Sahil says, “Right now I am stuck in Ukraine as a war criminal. Now I am hopeless, I don’t know what will happen in future. But I want to send a message to my Indian citizens. Those Indians coming to Russia for higher studies or work, be careful because there are so many scammers here. You may be trapped in criminal cases, narcotics cases, or illegal cases, so take care of yourself. As far as possible, stay away from all this.”

Sahil Mohamed Hussein Majothi, a resident of Morbi’s Kalika Plot area, came into the spotlight after Ukrainian authorities released a video earlier this month showing him surrendering to their forces.

‘I am hopeless’: Gujarat youth captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russia appeals to PM Modi for rescue

Russia is looking to hire more Indian workers as it is currently dealing with a labour shortage, India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar told Russian news agency TASS on Saturday. He stressed the need for manpower in Moscow and noted that India has skilled manpower. Kumar said that the Russian machinery and electronics industries are hiring Indians.&nbsp;"At a broader level, there is a manpower requirement in Russia, and India has skilled manpower. So at present, within the Russian regulations, framework of Russian regulations, laws and quotas, the companies are hiring Indians," Kumar said. &nbsp;&nbsp;He said that most Indians in Russia are working in the construction and textile sectors, adding that demand is, however, increasing.&nbsp;"Most of the people who have come are in the construction and textile sector, but the number of people interested in hiring Indians in the machinery and electronics segments is growing," the Indian envoy said. &nbsp;&nbsp;"When people come and leave, they need consular services to extend passports, childbirth, say for example, and loss of passport, and those kinds, basically consular services," he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;Moreover, the Indian embassy and consulates are starting to deal with the hike in incoming workers by opening a new Consulate General in Yekaterinburg.&nbsp;Notably, the number of Indian workers has surged in Russia in recent years, with 5,480 getting work permits in 2021 to 36,208 in 2024, according to think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF).<h2>India hits back at Trump tariffs</h2>India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar also hit back at Trump tariffs, saying that India will continue buying oil from wherever it gets the "best deal" and "take measures" to protect its national interest. &nbsp;&nbsp;Calling it "unfair, unreasonable and unjustified", Kumar said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens and that its cooperation with Russia and other countries has contributed to global oil market stability.&nbsp;This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, which he later doubled, making it a total of 50 per cent, citing several reasons, including India buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine.&nbsp;"First of all, we have clearly stated that our objective is energy security of 1.4 billion people of India and India's cooperation with Russia, as of several other countries, has helped to bring about stability in the global oil market. So the US decision is unfair, unreasonable and unjustified," he told TASS.

The envoy said that most Indians in Russia are working in the construction and textile sectors, adding that demand is, however, increasing.

Russia is looking to hire more Indian workers as it is currently dealing with a labour shortage, India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar told Russian news agency TASS on Saturday. He stressed the need for manpower in Moscow and noted that India has skilled manpower. Kumar said that the Russian machinery and electronics industries are hiring Indians. "At a broader level, there is a manpower requirement in Russia, and India has skilled manpower. So at present, within the Russian regulations, framework of Russian regulations, laws and quotas, the companies are hiring Indians," Kumar said. He said that most Indians in Russia are working in the construction and textile sectors, adding that demand is, however, increasing. "Most of the people who have come are in the construction and textile sector, but the number of people interested in hiring Indians in the machinery and electronics segments is growing," the Indian envoy said. "When people come and leave, they need consular services to extend passports, childbirth, say for example, and loss of passport, and those kinds, basically consular services," he added. Moreover, the Indian embassy and consulates are starting to deal with the hike in incoming workers by opening a new Consulate General in Yekaterinburg. Notably, the number of Indian workers has surged in Russia in recent years, with 5,480 getting work permits in 2021 to 36,208 in 2024, according to think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF). India hits back at Trump tariffs India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar also hit back at Trump tariffs, saying that India will continue buying oil from wherever it gets the "best deal" and "take measures" to protect its national interest. Calling it "unfair, unreasonable and unjustified", Kumar said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens and that its cooperation with Russia and other countries has contributed to global oil market stability. This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, which he later doubled, making it a total of 50 per cent, citing several reasons, including India buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine. "First of all, we have clearly stated that our objective is energy security of 1.4 billion people of India and India's cooperation with Russia, as of several other countries, has helped to bring about stability in the global oil market. So the US decision is unfair, unreasonable and unjustified," he told TASS.

The envoy said that most Indians in Russia are working in the construction and textile sectors, adding that demand is, however, increasing.

Indian manpower needed in Russia? Moscow seeks to hire Indians amid need of skilled workers

indians-in-russia

Indians In Russia, News on Indians In Russia, stories on Indians In Russia, articles on Indians In Russia, Indians In Russia stories at Wion, Indians In Russia news, Indians In Russia latest news

indians in-russia

‘I am hopeless’: Gujarat youth captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russia appeals to PM Modi for rescue

Indian manpower needed? Russia to hire Indians amid need of skilled workers