Russia Intensifies Recruitment of Mercenaries for Middle Eastern Conflicts: New Details and Threats to Ukraine’s Security
The situation surrounding large-scale recruitment of mercenaries in the Middle East becomes increasingly complex, as Russia and Iran coordinate efforts to enlist fighters from regional countries such as Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and others.
Sources within Ukrainian security agencies reveal that Moscow and Tehran are actively engaging former ISIS militants, which raises serious security concerns among analysts.One of the main reasons for this extensive recruitment campaign is the acute shortage of personnel within Russian armed forces, prompting authorities to seek alternative sources of military manpower.
Mercenaries are lured not only with financial incentives—payments ranging from a few thousand dollars—but also with promises of Russian citizenship after six months of service.
To conceal illegal transfer routes, networks of unauthorized migration and trafficking channels are utilized through key regions, including the Middle East, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia.Recent days have seen law enforcement detainments of illegal migrants attempting to cross borders in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asian countries.
Intelligence reports confirm close cooperation between migrants and Russian special services, with explicit promises of participation in military conflicts.
Notably, an Iraqi citizen, Amir Vissam Jwadh, was apprehended trying to cross a border illegally; evidence suggests he was recruited by the Russian Defense Ministry to fight against Ukraine.According to documents, the Iraqi mercenary signed a contract with the Russian military, receiving promises of payments between $3,000 and $8,000, along with the prospect of obtaining Russian citizenship after six months.
This indicates a systematic policy of recruiting foreign militants for participation in conflicts, posing serious regional security threats and directly impacting Ukraine’s stability.