Surat man untraceable after joining Russian Army
The family of 39-year-old Ramnik Sakhwala is seeking government help to locate him after he lost contact in June.
A family in Surat is appealing for government assistance to find 39-year-old Ramnik Sakhwala, who has been missing for over four months. According to Rediff, Sakhwala moved to Russia in 2025 to find better work following a slowdown in the diamond industry.
Sakhwala joined the Russian Army in early June 2026. His brother, Mahesh Sakhwala, said that Ramnik believed he would hold a non-combatant position responsible for delivering food to personnel in the war zone rather than fighting on the frontlines.
The last contact with Sakhwala's wife, Sheetal, occurred on June 24. He had reportedly mentioned he would be unreachable for 10 to 15 days.
The family has approached the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), and the Russian Consulate for help. Mahesh Sakhwala stated that MEA officials noted that because Sakhwala had obtained a Russian passport, they must contact the Russian Federation for further assistance.
The Indian embassy in Russia has informed the family that it is seeking information from Russian authorities. However, officials told the family that receiving an update could take between several months and a year.