Hyderabad Man Says He Was Tricked Into Joining Russian Army, Begs For Help In Distress Video

Last Updated:October 23, 2025, 10:55 IST

In the video, recorded in uniform with sounds of rocket fire and gunshots in the background, Ahmed said he was coerced into combat training and later ordered to join the frontlines

Ahmed's wife, Afsha Begum, has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar seeking help to bring him home. (Pics: X)

A Hyderabad man, Mohammed Ahmed, has released a series of distress videos claiming he has been trapped in the Russian army and forced to fight in the Russia–Ukraine war against his will. The 38-year-old from Khairatabad said he was duped by a job agent who promised employment in Russia’s construction sector but instead sent him into military service.

In the video, recorded in uniform with the sounds of rocket fire and gunshots in the background, Ahmed said he was coerced into combat training and later ordered to join the frontlines.

“I have failed in my attempts to convince the people here that I am not keen on fighting in the war. I showed them that I hurt my leg, but they do not seem to be bothered," he said.

Ahmed added that he and others would have to march for five days to reach the border and warned, “To my knowledge, no one who went there has returned." He also revealed that he tried to escape by jumping from an army vehicle, fracturing his leg. “They threatened us to fight and pointed a weapon at me… They placed a gun to my neck and said they would shoot me and stage it as if I was killed by a drone," Ahmed said in another video, adding that 17 of his 25 fellow recruits, including an Indian, had been killed.

His wife, Afsha Begum, has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar seeking help to bring him home. She said that Ahmed was sent to Russia in April 2025 by a Mumbai-based consultancy that offered him a construction job but abandoned him after his arrival.

“After one month without work, he and others were forcibly taken for weapons training. When he refused to fight, he was threatened with death," she wrote, adding that her husband is the sole breadwinner for their family, which includes his paralysed mother and two young children.

The Indian Embassy in Moscow, responding to Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, confirmed that it had shared Ahmed’s details with Russian authorities and requested his “early discharge and safe repatriation." “The embassy has been following up all cases of Indian nationals in the Russian Army on priority," it said.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, about 27 Indians are currently serving in the Russian army, with efforts underway to secure their release. Since the start of the war, several Indians reportedly lured by false job offers have been coerced into joining the Russian forces, trained in weapons, and sent to the frontlines.

Ahmed’s ordeal underscores a growing concern for Indian citizens trapped in similar situations abroad, as families back home continue to appeal for government intervention to ensure their safety and return.

Family Urges Owaisi To Help

Ahmed’s family, including his wife, has reached out to AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, seeking his intervention to secure Ahmed’s return from Russia. They met the Hyderabad MP last week, pleading for his assistance after losing contact with Ahmed, who remains trapped in the Russian army.

Responding to their appeal, Owaisi has written to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow, urging urgent steps to ensure Ahmed’s safety and repatriation. In his letter, the AIMIM chief requested authorities to “take immediate and necessary action" to bring Ahmed back to Hyderabad at the earliest.

News Desk

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

Read More

News world Hyderabad Man Says He Was Tricked Into Joining Russian Army, Begs For Help In Distress Video

Read More