Russia has recruited, since February 2022, at least 27,000 foreign nationals from over 130 countries to participate in the war in Ukraine. These recruitments largely target vulnerable individuals. An international investigation suggests an organized system that could constitute human trafficking.
Fodder for the cannon. Over 5,000 foreign nationals recruited by the Russian army have been killed fighting in Ukraine. This was revealed by an international investigation published on April 29 by the Truth Hounds NGO and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
According to the report, Russia has recruited at least 27,000 foreigners from over 130 countries since the beginning of the war in 2022. This includes around 14,000 North Korean soldiers sent under agreements with Moscow. In total, this represents a force comparable to that of some countries’ armies.
Recruitment has significantly increased between September 2025 and February 2026, with a 30% rise in enlistments. And this trend could continue: according to Ukrainian intelligence estimates, Russia is seeking to recruit nearly 18,500 foreign fighters by the end of the year.
Recruiters “deliberately target the most vulnerable populations.” Undocumented migrants, detainees, precarious laborers, foreign students – dozens of countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America are reportedly involved. “Many of these individuals knew, to some extent, what they were getting into. Others were deceived or forced. In all cases, it’s a state that has instrumentalized them for its war machine and sent them to the most dangerous front lines,” explains Alexis Dewaef, president of FIDH.
The investigation also mentions pressure tactics: threats of deportation, document confiscation, fabricated criminal charges, and even violence. Raids on migrant communities have reportedly been conducted to coerce some individuals into signing up.
Once enrolled, these fighters receive only a few weeks of training before being sent into combat. The losses are heavy: at least 3,388 deaths have been identified, but the actual number could exceed 5,000. According to some estimates, one in five foreign soldiers may not survive their deployment.
According to the investigation, the recruitment system established by Russia resembles an organized and structured scheme, involving both state actors and private intermediaries. Worse still, this system may amount to human trafficking, particularly due to the use of deception, coercion, and exploitation of individuals later sent into combat.
