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Russia Turns to Foreign Recruits From Over 40 Countries to Replenish Forces in Ukraine
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Russia is recruiting foreign nationals from more than 40 countries to fight against Ukraine as Moscow seeks additional manpower to replace battlefield losses and expand its forces, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) chief Oleh Ivashchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform on September 7.
Ivashchenko said Russia needs to simultaneously compensate for personnel losses and increase the size of its forces if it intends to pursue further military objectives, prompting Moscow to look for additional recruits beyond its borders.
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“Today, Russia is using foreign nationals from more than 40 countries, including countries in Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. They are primarily deployed in assault units. In intercepted communications, the Russians themselves call them ‘allies’ and often send them ahead of their own troops,” he stated.
Some foreign nationals are recruited through deception, according to the HUR chief. They travel to Russia seeking employment and subsequently sign contracts, in some cases without fully understanding what they are agreeing to.
Ivashchenko said Ukrainian forces have captured foreign nationals serving with the Russian military, allowing Ukrainian intelligence to assess the recruitment practice not only through documents and intercepted communications, but also through testimony from prisoners of war.
“We are working separately with countries whose citizens Russia is attempting to recruit in order to reduce the scale of such recruitment and prevent Russia from freely using this manpower in its war against Ukraine. However, foreign nationals cannot solve Russia’s manpower problem. They can only partially compensate for its losses,” HUR chief added.
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The growing presence of foreign recruits has also been documented on the battlefield. On September 2, Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade reported that Ukrainian forces had killed foreign nationals from Colombia and Zimbabwe serving with Russian troops on the Lyman front, where foreigners account for around 30% of personnel in newly deployed Russian units.
The brigade said the Colombian and Zimbabwean fighters were killed by troops from its 3rd Mechanized Battalion “Fireflies” and the “Siverska Sich” Motorized Infantry Battalion.
Overall, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence has identified more than 28,000 foreign nationals who have signed contracts with the Russian military, with the number continuing to rise.
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