Russia recruits Iranians for war, offering thousands of dollars
Iran (photo: Getty Images)
Russia has launched active recruitment of mercenaries in Iran, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
In several Iranian cities, leaflets have appeared en masse offering people the chance to join the Russian army for money: a one-time payment of $20,000 plus approximately $2,000 per month.
According to the CCD, the advertisements link to a Telegram channel created in November 2025, where recruitment is conducted in several languages.
The Russian Embassy in Iran has denied any involvement in the recruitment of mercenaries.
“This is a typical element of Russia’s systemic recruitment network, which for many years has sought mercenaries in poor and crisis-stricken countries. Iran is one of the most vulnerable targets due to its economic situation, high unemployment, and the large number of Afghan refugees, who often become targets of such schemes,” the CCD explained.
Analysts say that recruitment in Iran is not an isolated episode but part of a broader Russian strategy to compensate for massive losses and prepare for new offensive actions.
Who Is fighting against Ukraine
Earlier, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) reported that since 2022, Russia has recruited foreigners from 128 countries worldwide, using fraudulent recruitment centers, private companies, and state channels, with the involvement of its diplomatic and cultural institutions.
The largest number of foreign fighters fighting for Russia are citizens of North Korea, about 12,000 people, followed by nationals from Central Asian countries.
RBC-Ukraine has also reported that the daughter of a former South African president was involved in recruiting mercenaries to fight against Ukraine.
The South African government stated that affected citizens were deceived into fighting in the Donbas under the guise of lucrative employment contracts and that it is working to bring them back.
The government of South Africa also reported that 17 of its citizens were tricked into joining combat operations in the Donbas, having been presented with what was described as well-paid work.
More details on how this happens, what Africans do on the front lines, how they end up in captivity, and what they think about Russians afterward can be found in the article by RBC-Ukraine.
