Gujarat man who went to Russia for a job missing since June after joining army

Ramnik Sakhwala's family has sought government help after losing contact with him in Russia. His disappearance after joining the Russian Army has left relatives seeking proof that he is alive.Ramnik had informed the family that his military assignment would not involve fighting on the war frontline. (Representative Image: Reuters)A search for a better livelihood took 39-year-old Ramnik Sakhwala from Surat to Russia in 2025. What began as an attempt to escape the slowdown in India's diamond industry soon took an unexpected turn when he joined the Russian Army in June 2026. Now, more than four months later, the father of a 16-year-old boy remains missing, leaving his family desperate for answers.According to PTI, Ramnik, who previously worked in the planning department of a diamond manufacturing unit in Surat, travelled to Russia hoping to find better employment opportunities. Instead, he ended up joining the Russian military in June 2026, after being assured that he would not be sent to the battlefield or required to take part in combat operations.His family says they have heard nothing from him since June 24, when he last spoke to his wife, Sheetal. He had told her that he would be unreachable for the next 10 to 15 days. That brief period of silence has now stretched into more than four months, leaving his wife, son and relatives desperately trying to establish whether he is alive and where he is.With repeated appeals to Indian authorities and Russian diplomatic officials yet to produce a concrete answer, the family is now renewing its demand for government intervention. His brother, Mahesh Sakhwala, told PTI on Wednesday that the family's financial circumstances had prompted the move. "Ramnik travelled to Russia in search of better livelihood opportunities after his work in Surat's diamond industry became financially unviable," Mahesh said.Ramnik initially travelled to Russia in 2025 on a three-month business visa. The visa was subsequently extended by another year, allowing him to remain in the country for a longer period. However, his stay in Russia took an unexpected turn when he joined the Russian Army in early June 2026.PROMISED NON-COMBAT ROLE, THEN DISAPPEAREDAccording to his brother, Ramnik had informed the family that his military assignment would not involve fighting on the frontline. He was allegedly assured that he would be given a support role involving the supply of food to Russian personnel deployed in the war zone."Instead, he was assured that his responsibilities would involve supplying food to personnel in the war zone. Ramnik told us he would not have to fight or undertake any risky work. His only responsibility was to supply food," Mahesh said.The distinction is important because Russia has been recruiting foreign nationals into its military amid its ongoing war against Ukraine. Some Indians who travelled to Russia for employment have also found themselves caught up in military recruitment, with families subsequently raising concerns about their safety and attempts to bring them home.In Ramnik's case, his family says it has no confirmation of his military status, present location or condition.FAMILY KNOCKS ON GOVERNMENT'S DOORSAs the days passed without any communication, Ramnik's relatives began approaching Indian authorities for help.Mahesh said the family contacted the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. However, they were reportedly informed that Ramnik had obtained a Russian passport and that further assistance would require approaching the Russian Federation. The family says Ramnik had shared a photograph of his passport along with other documents before losing contact.They also approached the Gujarat State Non-Resident Gujaratis Foundation through email, seeking assistance in tracing him. A separate communication was sent to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai. However, the family claims it has not received a response.The Indian Embassy in Russia has reportedly told the family that it would seek information from Russian authorities and communicate any update once a response was received.But even that assurance has offered little comfort."We asked them whether he was alive. They said it was possible, but they could not provide any information at the moment. They also told us that getting a response could take months or even a year," Mahesh said.The family has also approached the Prime Minister's Office, submitting a letter around 20 days ago. According to Mahesh, there has been no response so far.WIFE STRUGGLES TO SUPPORT FAMILYBack in Surat, the uncertainty has taken a heavy toll on Ramnik's family.With her husband missing and no regular source of income from him, Sheetal has taken up sewing work to support the household. Other family members have also stepped in to provide financial assistance.Their 16-year-old son, who is studying in Class 11, has also been trying to trace his father. Mahesh said the teenager had written emails and letters to various authorities, hoping that someone would respond with information about his father's whereabouts.For now, Mahesh said the family was not seeking anything beyond government assistance to establish what happened to Ramnik and determine whether he was still alive.- EndsWith inputs from PTI