US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Ukraine Says Russia Recruited 27,000 from 135 Countries
Russian forces recruited over 27,000 foreign fighters, mostly from post-Soviet states and Africa, with numbers rising yearly and deceptive recruitment practices widespread, Ukrainian intelligence says.
- Ukrainian intelligence reported Russia recruited over 27,000 foreign fighters, with annual numbers rising to nearly 14,000 last year. This reliance on international manpower exceeds the size of some European armed forces.
- Recruiters lure individuals with false employment promises and around $2,000 bonuses, exploiting vulnerable workers seeking better income. Middlemen earn up to $15,000 per enlistment, creating financial incentives for deceptive recruitment networks.
- Kenyan mechanic Charles Waithaka died in Ukraine after being duped into fighting; Kenyan officials revised recruitment figures to 252, down from joint intelligence reports of roughly 1,000 Kenyans as of February.
- Ukrainian Defence Intelligence representative Andrii Cherniak stated Russia utilizes enlistments primarily for propaganda. "They are trying to show that Russia is not an aggressor, and that other countries also support Russia's ideas," he said.
- Recruitment now includes up to 15,000 Cuban citizens, while sourcing expands beyond post-Soviet states to Africa and South America across 36 countries. This global diversification complicates international security and accountability responses.
Insights by Ground AI
13 Articles
13 Articles
Zimbabwe: 15 Zimbabweans Killed in Russia-Ukraine War After Being Duped Into Foreign Military Recruitment
At least 15 Zimbabweans have died in the Russia-Ukraine war after being duped into joining foreign military forces through suspected human trafficking syndicates, Information Minister Soda Zhemu has revealed.
·South Africa
Read Full Article
‘Bigger than some armies’: Kyiv warns of 27,000 foreign fighters on Russia’s side
"This number is larger than some armed forces in some of the European countries," says Andriy Yusov, a Ukrainian intelligence spokesperson. Many come from post-Soviet states, but around 1,800 are Africans.
·Brussel, Belgium
Read Full Article
Russia strips African recruits of documents, sends them to Ukraine front line, EU Parliament resolution says - Euromaidan Press
The European Parliament voted 479–17 on 12 March to condemn Russia for recruiting thousands of African, Cuban, and Central Asian nationals under false pretenses for front-line combat duty in Ukraine, classifying the practice as human trafficking.
·Ukraine
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left6Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Left
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources lean Left
75% Left
L 75%
C 25%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
