Russia's desperate measures to replenish its military ranks in the ongoing war with Ukraine have sparked controversy and concern. While the Kremlin claims to rely on voluntary enlistment, evidence suggests otherwise. Many recruits, both Russian citizens and foreigners, report being coerced or duped into signing contracts to fight in Ukraine.
For average wage earners in Russia, it's a big payday. For criminals, it's a chance at freedom. For immigrants, it's a simplified path to citizenship. All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin's annual news conference last month revealed that 700,000 Russian troops are fighting in Ukraine, a number he's repeated since 2024. However, the true extent of military casualties remains hidden, with Moscow releasing limited official figures. Independent sources estimate over 1 million Russian troops may have been killed or wounded.
Despite martial law and nationwide mobilization in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Putin has resisted a broad call-up in Russia. Instead, he's relied on voluntary enlistment, with over 400,000 signing military contracts last year. But activists warn that these contracts often stipulate a fixed term, leading some to believe the commitment is temporary.
The government offers high pay and extensive benefits to enlistees, with regional authorities providing enlistment bonuses sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. However, media reports and rights groups claim conscripts are often coerced by superiors into signing contracts that send them into battle.
Recruitment also targets prisoners and those in pretrial detention centers, a practice adopted by the Defense Ministry. Laws now allow the recruitment of both convicts and suspects in criminal cases. Foreigners are also targeted, both inside Russia and abroad, with some lured by trafficking rings promising jobs and then duped into signing military contracts.
Nepal's Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud requested Russia return Nepali nationals recruited to fight in Ukraine and repatriate the remains of those killed. India's federal investigation agency broke up a network that lured at least 35 citizens to Russia under the pretext of employment. Iraqi officials report around 5,000 citizens have joined the Russian military, with some fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.
Foreigners are especially vulnerable because they don't speak Russian, have no military experience, and are deemed dispensable by military commanders. This situation is further exacerbated by the high cost of recruitment efforts for Russia, which faces a slowing economy.
The true number of foreign nationals fighting on the Russian side remains unclear, with over 18,000 reported by a Ukrainian agency. This represents a fraction of Putin's claimed 700,000 troops, highlighting the complex and controversial nature of Russia's military recruitment strategies.
