Hyderabad man duped on pretext of job in Russia, forced to fight war against Ukraine

Mohammed Ahmed travelled to Russia from Telangana in April. (Image: X)

A 37-year-old man from Hyderabad, who was offered a job in a construction company in Russia, is trapped on the Russia-Ukraine border and allegedly "forced" to fight in the war after being "duped" by a Mumbai-based agent, his family said.

Mohammed Ahmed travelled to Russia from Telangana in April, hoping to find employment in the construction sector. But, within weeks of his arrival, he found himself trapped in the middle of the Russia-Ukraine war, allegedly coerced into fighting on the frontlines after being defrauded by his job agent.

His wife, Afsha Begum has appealed to the Foreign Ministry to help rescue 37-year-old Ahmed, who she claims has been trapped in Russia and forced into combat training, according to a report by PTI.

Ahmed's wife, in a letter addressed to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, stated that a Mumbai-based consultancy firm had offered her husband a job in a construction company in Russia. She said that, as per their agreement, Ahmed left India in April 2025 and reached Russia.

She claimed her husband was not given work for nearly a month, and later, along with 30 others, he was shifted to a remote area and given weapons training forcibly.

"After training, 26 persons were taken to the border area to fight the Ukrainian Army. While being taken to the border area, Ahmed jumped from the army vehicle, due to which he suffered a fracture in his right leg. He refused to fight. But he is being threatened to either fight against the Ukrainian Army or get killed," she said, PTI reported.

Afsha Begum has urged the government to arrange her husband's immediate repatriation.

He is the sole breadwinner of the family, which includes his paralysed mother, herself and their two children, aged 10 and four, according to her.

Ahmed's video message

In a video message, Ahmed said, "The place where I am is border and war is going on. We four Indians refused to go (into the warzone). They threatened us to fight and pointed a weapon at me and another person. There is plaster on my leg. Don't leave the agent. The agent trapped and brought me here (Russia). The agent did not offer me work. I was forcibly brought here on the pretext of (giving) job".

Ahmed's family also approached All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi last week and requested him to help bring Ahmed back.

In a letter to the embassy, the AIMIM chief urged authorities to take immediate action for Ahmed's safe repatriation.

AIMIM President Barrister @asadowaisi ne Russia mein maujood Hindustani Embassy se darkhwast ki hai ke Hyderabad ka ek naujawan, Mohammed Ahmed, jise zabardasti Ukraine ki jung mein bhej diya gaya hai, uski wapsi ka intezam kiya jaye.
Barrister Owaisi ne apne letter mein likha ke… pic.twitter.com/RFzXXf6Wry

— AIMIM (@aimim_national) October 17, 2025

India seeks repatriation

Tadu Mamu, Counsellor at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, said that the embassy has shared Ahmed's details with the Russian authorities and has requested for them to ensure his early discharge from the Russian Army and safe repatriation to India.

The Embassy will keep the family informed on any further updates regarding Ahmed, the official further said, PTI reported.

Last month, India also called upon Russia to release 27 more Indian nationals who were recently recruited into the Russian military.

(With inputs from PTI)