Ukraine intelligence reveals losses among foreign fighters in Russian army
Photo: more than 5,000 foreigners killed in Russia's army (Getty Images)
More than 5,000 foreigners recruited into Russia’s army have already been killed during assault operations. Russia is using vulnerable individuals as expendable material, according to Dmytro Usov, secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and a report by Truth Hounds.
Scale of recruitment
According to the report, since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has recruited at least 27,000 foreign nationals from more than 130 countries.
In addition, researchers say that around 14,000 North Korean fighters have been involved in combat under bilateral arrangements. Recruitment spans Central and South Asia, Africa, the SWANA region (Southwest Asia and North Africa), and Latin America.
Between September 2025 and February 2026, the number of foreign fighters increased by more than 30%, and intelligence estimates that Russia may attempt to recruit another 18,500 foreigners by the end of 2026.
Deception and coercion schemes
Russian recruiters target socially, economically, and legally vulnerable individuals. Migrants are offered supposedly lucrative civilian jobs or non-combat roles in the rear.
Instead, upon arrival in Russia, recruits are forced to sign contracts in Russian, a language many of them do not understand.
Reports also cite threats of deportation, confiscation of documents, physical pressure, and the fabrication of criminal charges.
Use in combat
Rather than rear duties, recruits are sent to the front lines after just a few weeks of training. They are used in high-risk frontal attacks.
According to the reports, one in five foreign recruits does not survive, with many killed in the first months.
Overall, Ukrainian authorities have recorded at least 3,388 confirmed deaths among this category of personnel, while total losses are estimated to exceed 5,000.
Legal assessment
International experts classify these actions as part of a global human trafficking scheme. This constitutes a violation of the Palermo Protocol to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
The report stresses that countries of origin, including Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nepal, and Cuba, should step up investigations and diplomatic pressure to protect their citizens and hold recruiters accountable.
Russia draws foreign nationals into the war
Russia is systematically recruiting foreign nationals for the war against Ukraine.
In particular, India’s central government informed the Supreme Court about the deaths of 10 Indian nationals who were forced to fight in Russia’s armed forces. An investigation into the circumstances of their deployment is ongoing.
In addition, Russia disguises recruitment campaigns as humanitarian initiatives. According to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Russia opened a cultural center (a so-called Russian House) in Togo, which is used for anti-Western propaganda and covert recruitment of mercenaries from Africa.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s I Want to Live project exposed the Kremlin’s plans to mobilize foreigners in 2026. Russia intends to recruit tens of thousands more, and foreigners are being advised to avoid traveling to Russia.
