Ukraine’s government said Monday it has identified what it describes as a global Russian recruitment network that has brought more than 28,000 foreign nationals into the war in Ukraine.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (CHTPW), a Ukrainian government body handling prisoners of war and conflict-related issues, launched a new website, StopRussianRecruiters.org, which it says documents recruitment methods, intermediaries, and individuals linked to efforts to send foreign fighters to Russia’s military.
The CHTPW said the new website is intended to warn potential recruits about Russia’s recruitment system and support efforts to hold accountable those involved in sending foreign nationals to fight for Moscow.
According to the CHTPW, the more than 28,000 identified recruits come from 135 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
They are drawn in through deception and coercion, including fake job offers, fraudulent educational programs, and the use of local intermediaries. Financial incentives and limited training are also reportedly used to secure enlistment.
The CHTPW said those recruited include labor migrants, unemployed individuals, and students. “Russia cannot sustain its war in Ukraine through voluntary domestic recruitment alone,” the agency said. “So it has turned to the world’s most vulnerable populations.”
The website revealed that at least 5,149 of the more than 28,000 foreign recruits have been confirmed killed in combat. It also discloses the identities of hundreds of foreign prisoners of war held in Ukrainian custody.
CHTPW urged foreign fighters who wish to surrender to Ukraine, as well as relatives of foreign individuals who served in the Russian Armed Forces and have gone missing, lost contact, or may have been captured, to reach out through the website.
“We encourage relatives of prisoners of war to appeal both to Russian authorities and to their own governments to accelerate the process of bringing their loved ones home,” CHTPW added.
According to CHTPW, Russia is seeking to expand its foreign recruitment efforts further, with estimates suggesting plans to bring in roughly 18,500 additional fighters from abroad.
Ukrainian military intelligence recently reported active recruitment efforts in Latin America, including more than 1,000 Cuban citizens said to have signed contracts with the Russian military. Some Ukrainian estimates put the figure as high as 10,000 to 15,000.
The claims could not be independently verified.
Russia has previously acknowledged the presence of foreign fighters, including North Koreans in its ranks but has allegations of systematic recruitment.
