- Category
- Latest news
Russians Allegedly Lure Men From 126 Countries Into Army Contracts
- Authors
![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, is targeting migrant-smuggling and overseas recruitment networks to boost Russia’s forces for the war in Ukraine, as “headhunters” dupe men from 126 countries into signing contracts, according to The Telegraph on January 26.
The Telegraph said many of those recruits are killed within 72 hours of reaching the front, describing a system that draws foreigners to Russia with promises of civilian work or safe military jobs before they are sent into combat.
Every article pushes back against disinformation. Your support keeps our team in the field.
Inside Russia, law enforcement pressure on migrants and newly naturalized citizens has also been linked to manpower needs.
Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, said on May 20, 2025 that Russian authorities had sent 20,000 recently naturalized citizens to the front lines after raids targeting those who had not registered for military service.
Legal incentives have accompanied coercive tactics. Russia introduced a simplified pathway to citizenship for foreign nationals who sign military contracts during what Moscow calls its “special military operation.”
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on November 19, 2025 it had identified more than 18,000 foreign nationals from 128 countries and unrecognized territories who have fought for Russia, adding that “many people have ended up in the Russian army through fraud or coercion.”
Russian soldier: “Look how many disposables are here,” while filming a large detachment of African mercenaries sent to fight against Ukraine. — Exilenova+
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) January 11, 2026
This is how russians treat their own comrades. pic.twitter.com/TdoG4JlEvQ
The group said Ukraine is holding prisoners of war from 37 countries who fought for Russia, and its secretary, General Dmytro Usov, said that Moscow had shown little interest in exchanging captured foreigners, stating that “Russia has not requested the exchange of a single foreign national, apart from citizens of North Korea.”
Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian officials identified tens of thousands of foreign nationals from a wide range of countries fighting for Russia, many allegedly drawn in through deception, coercion, or promises of pay and documents.
-7f54d6f9a1e9b10de9b3e7ee663a18d9.png)
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
