Omanghana
Amnesty International has accused Russia of systematically using deception, coercion and exploitation to recruit foreign nationals for its war against Ukraine, describing the practice as a form of human trafficking under the United Nations Palermo Protocol.
The organization’s findings are based on research conducted between 2024 and 2026, including interviews with foreign prisoners of war from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Those interviewed came from countries including Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
According to the report, recruiters often target people facing economic hardship by advertising well-paid civilian jobs in Russia. Some recruits were allegedly promised employment as security guards, drivers, information technology workers or construction laborer’s, along with signing bonuses and accelerated access to Russian citizenship.
Amnesty said several foreign nationals had their passports and mobile phones confiscated after arriving in Russia. Their movements were reportedly restricted, while some were pressured or deceived into signing military contracts written in Russian without translations.
The report also alleges that recruiters exploit foreign workers, refugees and prisoners already living in Russia. Migrants facing deportation, imprisonment or penalties for overstaying their visas were reportedly offered military service as a way to avoid legal consequences.
After signing the contracts, many recruits allegedly received limited military training before being deployed to active front-line positions in Ukraine.
Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard accused Russian military commanders of treating foreign recruits as “cannon fodder” by assigning them to dangerous assault operations with inadequate preparation.
Estimates cited from Ukrainian intelligence and international human rights organizations indicate that more than 28,000 foreign nationals from 136 countries have served with Russian forces.
Amnesty acknowledged that both Russia and Ukraine use foreign fighters. However, the organization said it had been unable to independently investigate the recruitment of foreigners into Ukraine’s armed forces because Moscow’s designation of Amnesty as a “foreign agent” prevents it from accessing prisoner-of-war facilities under Russian control.
The human rights organization called on the Russian government to dismantle coercive recruitment networks, release foreign workers trapped in military service and permit international monitoring of recruitment and military lab our practices.
Source: Omanghana
