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Russia Sends Central Asian Migrants to the Front Lines, Ukrainian Intel Says
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia is increasingly targeting labor migrants from Central Asia—particularly from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan—for recruitment into its military forces involved in the war against Ukraine, according to a June 21 report by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR).
The report states that Russian military officials are actively recruiting foreign nationals who arrive in Russia in search of employment. Many of them are misled with promises of quick earnings through short-term military contracts.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the majority of these recruits are later killed in combat. Among the recently identified casualties are two Uzbek and Tajik nationals: Sirojiddin Sabirdzhanovich Umarov, born in 1984 in Tashkent, and Mukhammad Fayzullo Kholbuvozoda, also born in 1984, who joined the Russian army in February 2025.
The HUR notes that these individuals were assigned to separate infantry units and deployed to some of the most dangerous front-line positions. Recruited migrants reportedly serve in segregated units, frequently used in high-risk combat zones.
Ukrainian officials emphasize that even those who survive their deployment face potential prosecution upon returning home. Participation in foreign military formations may constitute a criminal offense in their countries of origin, carrying the risk of long-term imprisonment.
This recruitment pattern reflects an ongoing Russian strategy of leveraging foreign labor migrants in its military campaign against Ukraine, often without full disclosure of the risks or legal consequences involved.
Earlier, President Zelenskyy revealed that Russia has been recruiting Chinese nationals to fight in Ukraine, using platforms like TikTok to spread promotional content. According to Ukrainian intelligence, over 150 Chinese citizens have already joined Russian forces. Recruits reportedly receive medical checks, military training, and payment cards before deployment.
