Russia Recruited 18,000 Foreign Fighters from 128 Countries by End of 2025, Ukrainian Report Claims

Extensive Recruitment Drive Revealed

By the close of 2025, the Russian Federation had reportedly enlisted around 18,000 foreign fighters from 128 countries to support its military operations in Ukraine. This figure, released by Ukrainian military officials and intelligence, suggests a broad international recruitment effort. An estimated 3,300 of these foreign combatants have been killed in action.

Tactics of Deception and Coercion

Ukrainian intelligence reports indicate that Russia employs various methods, including 'deception' and 'coercion,' to attract foreign nationals. Recruiters often exploit existing migrant labor networks, promising lucrative employment, legal residency, or significant financial rewards. However, many recruits are allegedly sent directly to the front lines, often under false pretenses of non-combat roles.

Promotional offers have included monthly salaries of up to $2,300 and the opportunity to obtain Russian citizenship. Social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Telegram are reportedly used to disseminate narratives portraying Russia as a welcoming country and an anti-colonial partner, particularly targeting audiences in Africa.

Global Reach of Recruitment

The recruitment drive spans a wide geographical area, encompassing:

• Post-Soviet states
• Countries in the Global South, including those in Africa (e.g., Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal), Asia (e.g., Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China), Latin America (e.g., Cuba, Colombia, Brazil), and the Middle East (e.g., Iran, Yemen).

Some reports suggest that the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, has also served as a recruitment intermediary in regions like Mali and the Central African Republic.

Conditions and Casualties

Foreign fighters are often provided with minimal training, sometimes as little as one week, before being deployed to high-casualty 'meat assaults' on the front lines. There are accounts of these individuals being treated as 'disposable soldiers,' left without evacuation if wounded. Ukrainian officials have highlighted instances of alleged mistreatment, including a video purportedly showing an African fighter with a landmine strapped to his chest being ordered to storm Ukrainian positions.

International Response

Ukraine has actively engaged with foreign governments, sharing information and documentary evidence regarding the recruitment of their citizens into the Russian armed forces. This includes data on 136 mercenaries from 37 countries currently held as prisoners of war by Ukraine. Russia, for its part, has publicly welcomed foreign fighters but has also stated that foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine would not be afforded prisoner-of-war status under international humanitarian law and would face criminal prosecution.