Bloomberg reports that Russia is purportedly dispatching thousands of migrants and foreign students to join its troops in the conflict against Ukraine, supposedly as a condition for visa renewal.
European officials allege that the Kremlin is employing tactics reminiscent of the Wagner mercenary group to bolster its manpower.
The report suggests that Russia has been coercing African students and young workers by threatening not to extend their visas unless they agree to military service.
Some African migrants with work visas have allegedly been detained and forced to choose between deportation or enlistment.
Despite attempts to bribe officials for leniency, many have found themselves compelled to join the military.
This practice of conscripting migrants and students under duress has been ongoing since earlier in the war, according to European officials.
These forced recruits often face higher casualty rates as they are deployed in riskier operations to support more seasoned units.
While the Russian Foreign Ministry declined to comment on these allegations, reports from Ukrainian intelligence suggest that Russia has been conducting a global recruitment campaign for foreign mercenaries, targeting individuals from at least 21 countries, particularly in Africa.
Recruiters offer lucrative incentives and falsely promise lucrative civilian jobs before coercing individuals into military service.
The ability of Russia to mobilize a large number of troops could potentially shift the dynamics of the conflict in Putin’s favor, although currently, Russian forces have made slow progress in northeastern Ukraine and have suffered significant casualties.
The UK Ministry of Defence estimates that Russia lost over 1,200 personnel per day in May, with a total of 500,000 casualties since the start of the invasion. However, these figures cannot be independently verified by Bloomberg.
Despite the ongoing military setbacks, Putin has refrained from a full-scale mobilization, relying instead on voluntary recruitment drives to replenish the ranks. However, the exact number of recruits and their quality remain uncertain.
While Russia’s recruitment efforts have attracted attention internationally, some countries like Nepal have acknowledged the recruitment of their citizens, while others remain unaware.
Ukraine has reported capturing foreign fighters, particularly from Africa and Nepal, suggesting a significant presence of non-Russian combatants in the conflict.
Concerns about the involvement of foreign fighters have prompted discussions among Group of Seven nations, with attempts to garner support for Ukraine.
However, many countries, particularly from the Global South, have remained neutral, influenced in part by Moscow’s disinformation campaigns.
Previous reports have highlighted the involvement of African citizens in Russian-backed forces, with some recruited from prisons by the Wagner group. Despite these challenges, Russia continues to attract thousands of African students annually, offering free education opportunities.
