Russia is illegally recruiting and trafficking foreign nationals into its military to fight in the ongoing war against Ukraine, Amnesty International has alleged in a new report.
The international human rights organization said some foreigners were deceived into signing contracts with the Russian military after being lured to the country with promises of well-paid civilian jobs.
According to Amnesty International, its findings were based on interviews with prisoners of war who reportedly said they had been misled or deceived into joining the Russian armed forces.
The organization said victims identified in its investigation included citizens of Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka and South Africa, with some allegedly recruited through fake employment advertisements before being pressured or persuaded to join the Russian army after arriving in the country.
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Amnesty International Secretary-General, Agnes Callamard, said the recruitment of foreigners was exposing vulnerable people from poorer communities around the world to the dangers of the Russia-Ukraine war.
“The suffering linked to the internationalization of the war is affecting highly vulnerable communities and individuals around the world,” Callamard told AFP in an interview following the release of the report.
The allegations come amid growing concerns over Russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals to reinforce its military forces in Ukraine.
Africans Among Those Targeted
The report is particularly significant for African countries, as previous investigations have uncovered recruitment efforts targeting Africans with promises of lucrative employment in Russia.
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In June, an AFP investigation reported that Kenyan nationals were being lured to Russia with promises of well-paid civilian jobs, only to allegedly find themselves recruited into the Russian military and sent towards the front lines.
Amnesty said the typical foreign national targeted by recruiters working for Russia is often under the age of 40 and from a relatively poorer country, making promises of employment and financial opportunities particularly attractive.
Callamard alleged that some individuals involved in the recruitment process were aware that the foreigners being recruited were vulnerable and could ultimately be sent to fight.
“Obviously, there are many individuals who work for the Russian state who know that the people they recruit to go to the front line are victims of trafficking,” she said.
“They are complicit in this phenomenon and they should be held accountable.”
Thousands of Foreigners Reportedly Fighting
Foreign nationals have been involved on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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Ukraine estimated in April that more than 28,000 foreigners from 136 countries were fighting in the Russian military.
Russia has also received military support from North Korea. Ukrainian officials have estimated that Moscow deployed approximately 14,000 North Korean troops to assist Russian forces during Ukraine’s 2024 incursion into the Kursk region.
Ukraine, meanwhile, also recruits foreign nationals into its armed forces.
However, Amnesty International said it has been unable to conduct similar investigations among foreign fighters held by Russia because the organization has been designated a “foreign agent” by Moscow.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine has publicly disclosed the exact number of foreign nationals currently serving in their respective militaries.
Russia Rejects Coercion Claims
Russia has previously rejected accusations that foreign nationals are being coerced into joining its armed forces.
There was no immediate public response from Moscow to Amnesty International’s latest allegations at the time of the report.
The allegations nevertheless add to growing international scrutiny of recruitment practices linked to the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly claims that economically vulnerable foreigners are being attracted to Russia with employment promises before being directed towards military service.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has increasingly drawn personnel and military support from countries outside the immediate conflict zone.
Amnesty International is calling for those responsible for trafficking or exploiting vulnerable foreign nationals to be held accountable.
As the conflict continues, concerns over the recruitment of foreigners highlight the increasingly international dimension of a war that has already resulted in widespread displacement, casualties and economic disruption across the region and beyond.
