Russia is reportedly sending thousands of migrants and foreign students to fight alongside its troops in the war against Ukraine in exchange for visa renewals, according to Bloomberg.
European officials allege that the Kremlin is employing tactics first used by the Wagner mercenary group to bolster its forces. These officials claim that Russia has been coercing African students and young workers by threatening not to extend their visas unless they join the military.
In addition to conscripting convicts, some African migrants on work visas have been detained and given a choice between deportation or military service. Some have managed to avoid conscription by bribing officials, according to a European source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The practice of pressuring migrants and students into combat began earlier in the conflict, with these recruits often facing high casualty rates due to their deployment in risky operations to protect better-trained units, another European official noted.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment.
Reports citing Ukrainian intelligence indicate that Russia has been recruiting foreign mercenaries from at least 21 countries, including several African nations, offering lucrative signing bonuses and salaries for contract soldiers. Recruiters have targeted migrants and students, sometimes luring them with promises of lucrative jobs before forcing them into military training and deployment.
As President Vladimir Putin seeks to capitalize on a shift in momentum, Russia’s ability to mobilize large numbers of troops could significantly impact the war. Despite slow advances and heavy losses in northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces have increased bombing campaigns against cities like Kharkiv to make them uninhabitable, according to Western officials.
The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia lost over 1,200 personnel daily in May, marking the highest casualty rate of the war. Estimates suggest that since the invasion began, Russia has suffered around 500,000 killed or wounded, though these figures could not be independently verified by Bloomberg.
During a meeting with foreign media, Putin suggested that about 10,000 Russian troops are killed or wounded each month, claiming Ukrainian losses are five times higher.
Although the Kremlin has yet to achieve a battlefield breakthrough, it continues a voluntary recruitment drive that has attracted tens of thousands, avoiding full-scale mobilization.
Earlier this year, Nepal acknowledged that around 400 young Nepali men had been recruited by Russia, with many more potentially signing up without the government’s knowledge. The end of India’s 200-year-old tradition of recruiting Nepalese Gurkhas for its army may have pushed some Nepalis to seek work in Russia.
A senior Ukrainian official noted an increase in the number of foreign fighters among captured prisoners, particularly Africans and Nepalis. Some of Ukraine’s allies are considering sharing information with the affected countries.
The Group of Seven nations, preparing for a summit in Italy, have been trying to persuade Global South countries to support Ukraine, though many have remained neutral amid Moscow’s disinformation efforts.
Reuters previously reported that the Wagner mercenary group had recruited African convicts for its forces in Ukraine, tracing stories of men from Tanzania, Zambia, and the Ivory Coast.
Yevgeny Primakov, head of Rossotrudnichestvo, stated that there are currently 35,000-37,000 African students in Russia, with about 6,500 enrolling each year on scholarships.
