'Fight or die' : A harrowing tale of Hyderabad bouncer who escaped Russia-Ukraine war

Hyderabad: Russia-Ukraine war is no longer just a geopolitical battle between two nations; it has become a nightmare for several Indian youths who travelled to Russia in search of work but returned with stories of coercion, torture, and death.

Among them is Mohammed Ahmed, a 37-year-old resident of Hyderabad, who narrowly escaped the battlefield and returned home traumatized but alive.

A Journey of Hope That Turned Into Horror

Ahmed, who worked as a bouncer in Khairatabad, left for Russia on April 25, 2025, after being promised a job in construction and warehousing. He had previously worked in Georgia, so foreign employment did not seem unusual to him. But this time, a Mumbai-based agent deceived him with false assurances.

The moment he landed in Russia, his ordeal began. He was handed a contract written entirely in Russian. When he tried to translate it using his phone, the phone was snatched away, and he was forced to sign the document. What followed, according to him, was weeks of torture, intimidation, and forced military training.

We Were Ordered to Fight. The Choice Was Simple: Fight or Die.”

Ahmed told News Meter that he and about 30 others were first kept idle for a month. Then, without warning, they were transported to a remote location and given weapons training.

Among this group, five were Indians.

He recalled chilling duties: burying dead soldiers, retrieving bodies rotting in mud, and transporting casualties from the battlefield.

Soon after, 26 men were sent to the front lines. Of them, Ahmed says 17 died in combat.

Two Indians from his group have been missing for over a month and a half.

Ahmed still doesn’t know if they are alive.

A Video That Saved His Life

Desperate to escape, Ahmed secretly managed to get hold of a phone and record a video detailing his ordeal. Phones were prohibited, but he hid the device and sent the video to his family.

His message went viral in India overnight, and that’s when his real trouble began.

Russian officers allegedly beat him with an AK-47, repeatedly demanding to know how he managed to record the video.

“They hit me on the head. They kept asking who helped me. But no one did; it was my last attempt to survive,” Ahmed said.

How He Was Rescued

After receiving the video, Ahmed’s family approached AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, who immediately took up the issue.

Owaisi wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs and personally spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking urgent intervention.

MIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi speaking to the Ministry of External Affairs regarding Mohammad Ahmed.

Soon, Indian embassy officials contacted Ahmed. He was blindfolded and dropped off at Moscow Airport, from where he eventually flew back to India.

His family, his wife, and children were overwhelmed with relief on seeing him return alive.

The Trauma Remains

Despite reaching home, Ahmed’s face reflects deep emotional wounds.

He is haunted not only by what he endured, but also by the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the hundreds of Indian youths still trapped in Russia, many of whom were coerced into joining the war.

A Scam That Targeted Indian Youth

Ahmed says he was promised ₹10 lakhs to join the Russian army. But nearly 50% of salaries were deducted for “safety equipment,” leaving them with almost nothing.

"The money doesn’t matter,” he said. “What matters is that boys from Rajasthan, Haryana, Mumbai, and other states are trapped there. Two went missing, that’s when fear gripped me.”

A Plea to the Indian Government

Ahmed has made one request:

“Hundreds of Indian youths are still stuck in the Russian army. The government must speak to Russia and bring them home.”

His story is just one among many, a chilling reminder that in the shadows of global conflict, it is often the poorest and most vulnerable who are exploited, silenced, and forgotten.