Surat man missing in Russia after joining Russian Army in June 2026
The family of Ramnik Sakhwala is seeking government intervention after he lost contact following his enlistment in the military.
A 39-year-old man from Surat, Ramnik Sakhwala, has been missing in Russia since June 2026 after joining the Russian Army, according to India Today.
Sakhwala originally travelled to Russia in 2025 on a three-month business visa to find better work after his employment in the Surat diamond industry became financially unviable.
He joined the military in early June 2026, allegedly under the assurance that he would hold a non-combat role supplying food to personnel in war zones.
His brother, Mahesh Sakhwala, told PTI on Wednesday that the family has not heard from him since June 24, when Sakhwala told his wife, Sheetal, he would be unreachable for 10 to 15 days.
The family has approached the Ministry of External Affairs, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, but they claim they have received no concrete answers.
The Indian Embassy in Russia has stated it will seek information from Russian authorities, though the family was told a response could take months or a year.
