Overview
- The family received two new videos on December 21, shared by Ukrainian authorities, in which Sahil Mohammad Hussain urges help and warns Indians about scammers targeting students in Russia.
- The clips bear Ukraine’s 'I Want to Live' project logo, and Hussain says he was sentenced to seven years in a narcotics case in Russia, signed a war contract in prison, trained for about 15 days, then surrendered on reaching the frontline.
- The Delhi High Court on November 3 directed the Ministry of External Affairs to appoint a liaison officer and press for repatriation, with the family’s petition next listed for hearing in early February.
- India’s Foreign Secretary has said New Delhi is actively working to secure returns, noting that Prime Minister Modi raised recruitment concerns with President Putin during the December 4–5 visit.
- The External Affairs Ministry told Parliament that 202 Indians are believed to have been recruited by Russia’s military, with 26 reported dead, seven missing, 119 discharged, and efforts continuing for the remaining cases.