Foreigners in the Russian Army

Three years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian citizens' interest in joining the ranks has severely declined. Independent outlet Verstka investigated why foreign nationals from Africa and Asia, despite not speaking Russian, are rushing to fill Russia's manpower void.

Morale for enlisting in the Russian army grew significantly when Ukraine began its counterattack into neighboring Kursk Oblast. In August, 2024, 200 to 250 men per day flocked to sign contracts with the military in Moscow alone. Now, however, that number has fallen to 40. Some of these men are convicted criminals or citizens under investigation looking for judicial amnesty. The rest can't or barely speak Russian. 

According to Verstka, the foreigners arrive in groups, but there is no known campaign from the Ministry of Defense to bring people to enlist. An undisclosed source at the Moscow mayor's office told the publication, "A lot of China and a lot of Africa. People come in [in groups of] 15, 10 at a time. As if they were handing them in." The government employee claims that many of these men seem to arrive in Moscow thanks to the internet or friends. The source suspects there is a "systematic" scheme.

In the past, human trafficking networks have tricked men from India and Cuba into fighting in Russia's war on Ukraine by promising them high-paying jobs. Russia has put posters to lure men to join its ranks in Syria and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Despite government warnings on the dangers of fighting in a foreign war, men from countries across Africa and Asia are showing up at the united point of selection in Moscow's Yablochkova Street to enlist.

A Ghanaian man told Verstka he was invited by a friend to come to Russia. He saw ads to join the army everywhere in the Metro. "I came and I realized there's an opportunity to join the army (...) To serve is my dream," he said. Another Ghanaian man said he joined the Russian army because "I like Russia because of [Roman] Abramovich, [the owner of] Chelsea [Football Club]. I have developed a love for Russia. I watch Russian films." 

A Chinese man told Verstka that "some guy" on the internet told him about the opportunity to join the Russian army. "My parents got some illness [so] I need more money. I don't know if it's legal to join [the] Russian Army," he said.

A student from Bangladesh came to Yablochkova Street to enlist upon a friend's recommendation. "My friend joined the Russian Army 20 days ago. He’s alive and all right. He finished training and is now going to the Russian border. He’s safe." His ultimate goal is to financially support his family back home. Another Bangladeshi man came with the student. When asked why he was joining the army, he said "I like the Russian army."

Verstka's source in the mayor's office said, "The Chinese are all for the money, 100 percent. The Africans are overwhelmingly for military experience. Everyone says they would like to serve in their own country, but there is no such opportunity." Fighters from countries in the CIS tend to be seeking Russian citizenship. The government employee called the foreigners' declarations of love for Russia "bullshit."

Almost all recruits from Africa and Asia do not speak Russian. According to Verstka's source, all recruits are told that they will have to communicate in Russian at the front because nobody in the army will speak English to them. The government employee said, "How do you do [translation] without access to the internet? You need to at least learn the words 'forward,' 'back,' 'to the shelter,' and so on."