UK intel: Russia’s recruitment drive targets migrant workers to bypass domestic mobilization
Facing high casualties in Ukraine and reluctant to further mobilize its citizens, Russia is recruiting migrant workers with financial incentives to boost troop levels without triggering unpopular domestic conscription, though their numbers remain low, per UK intelligence.
- Russia continues to advertise and seek to recruit foreign nationals to join the Russian Armed Forces to fight in Ukraine. The most recent leaflet, written in English, requests foreigners to join a ‘special’ unit in the Russian Army and highlights a monthly salary of $2,200, a signing on payment of $2,000, a Russian passport, free medical treatment and training.
- Online recruitment adverts were distributed during the middle of 2023 specifically appealing to citizens of neighbouring countries, such as Armenia and Kazakhstan, with monthly salary offers of $1,973 and signing on payments of $5,140. During 2023 Russia had also been approaching central Asian migrants within Russia. More recently there have been reports of migrants from India and Nepal recruited and sent to fight in Ukraine.
- It is likely that many of those that have been recruited are not professional soldiers but migrant workers and have been coerced to fight under false pretences or with the offer of financial incentives. The numbers of foreign nationals in the Russian Armed Forces are likely to be low and integrated in to established rather than ‘special’ units. Russia likely wishes to avoid further unpopular domestic mobilisation measures and with significant casualties – currently estimated at 913 per day — Russia needs to continue to explore all recruitment avenues to maintain a high tempo of personnel in-flow.
Read also:
- Finland to extend Russian border closure indefinitely
- India busts human trafficking ring sending Indians to fight against Ukraine
- Reuters: Nepal suspends work permits for Russia following citizens killed fighting in Ukraine
- Russia recruits Indians to fight against Ukraine
- Three more Nepalese mercenaries killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine
- Reuters: Nepal detains 10 suspects for allegedly recruiting youths into Russian army
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