According to recent information released by the UK Ministry of Defense on Twitter, Russia has been engaging in deceptive practices to recruit foreign citizens into its military, specifically targeting migrants with offers to join “special” units. The reality, however, is that these individuals are being sent to regular units on the frontline in Ukraine.
The ministry highlighted a recruitment leaflet that promises potential recruits a monthly salary of $2,200, a $2,000 initial payout, and benefits including Russian citizenship, free medical services, and education. These advertisements have been distributed not only in Russian but also in English, aimed at attracting foreign nationals.
In 2023, Russia expanded its recruitment efforts to include online job postings that specifically targeted citizens of neighboring countries such as Armenia and Kazakhstan, offering a monthly salary of $1,973 and additional payouts of $5,140. There have also been reports throughout the year of recruitment activities aimed at migrants from Central Asia residing within Russia, and more recently, migrants from India and Nepal have been recruited.
The UK Ministry of Defense assesses that many of these recruits are likely not professional soldiers but migrant workers who have been coerced into fighting, either through false pretenses or financial incentives. The ministry suggests that the actual number of foreign citizens fighting for Russia in Ukraine is relatively small and that these individuals are typically integrated into regular military units.
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