Russia is intensifying the recruitment of foreign citizens to participate in the war against Ukraine, which raises concerns within the international community
According to British intelligence, from April 2023 to May 2024, Moscow has already recruited over 1,500 foreign volunteers in an effort to bolster its fighting units amid the ongoing and exhausting war that Russia is waging against Ukraine. According to a briefing from the UK Ministry of Defense published on the "European Pravda" platform, the majority of volunteers have arrived from South and Southeast Asian countries— totaling 771 individuals. The same applies to former Soviet republics such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan— here, civil activists and military formations have recruited 523 foreigners. Additionally, there are approximately 72 recruits from African countries. Intelligence sources emphasize that the process of involving foreign personnel in the war is largely uncoordinated and chaotic, indicating the absence of a centralized strategy. At the same time, the report highlights that most foreigners joining the Russian army are motivated by financial gain and the prospect of obtaining Russian citizenship. Usually, recruits are brought in through Moscow, where more favorable contract signing conditions are offered and where higher "bonuses" for service are available. It is noted that Moscow, with its international accessibility, is the main hub for recruiting foreign volunteers. Intelligence forecasts that, although foreign military formations constitute a small fraction of the overall Russian armed forces, their role will remain significant in the long-term perspective. As the Russian command needs to replace lost forces, and since mobilizing internal resources could face limitations, Moscow is likely to once again turn to recruiting foreigners to support the military campaign. The briefing emphasizes that this approach aligns with Russia’s strategy to compensate for losses without resorting to a large-scale second wave of mobilization. These events occur amid ongoing reports of Ukraine’s resource exhaustion and the prolonged duration of Russian aggression. The previous British analysis detailed Russia’s massive missile strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and described Ukraine’s difficulties in restoring its damaged defense systems. Meanwhile, the Estonian intelligence center notes that Russia continues its war of attrition, deploying significant military resources and betting on wearing down the Ukrainian army. According to their assessments, there are no signs of preparations for a potential ceasefire at this point. Instead, Moscow maintains a long-term exhaustion strategy, prolonging the conflict and seeking to deplete Ukrainian forces and the country’s energy potential. Thus, recruiting foreign volunteers is an important element in Russia’s tactical and strategic plans. It reflects Moscow’s desire to sustain combat capability by involving additional resources and employing diplomatic maneuvers, which makes the situation even more complicated for Ukraine and its international partners. This policy continues to deepen international tensions and highlights the alarming dynamics of a conflict that is unlikely to end soon.