The Ukrainian military intelligence project “I Want to Live” has reported significant plans by Russia to recruit foreign nationals into its armed forces, with projections for 2026 indicating the enlistment of tens of thousands of individuals.
Russia has escalated its campaign to recruit foreign citizens, particularly migrants, conducting checks on the population of male foreigners aged between 18 and 60 across all federal districts. This initiative involves the main organizational and mobilization department of the Russian General Staff and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which oversees the registration and citizenship of foreigners.
Military recruitment offices have been given specific targets, aiming to enlist between 0.5% and 3.5% of the total number of foreigners in each region for the conflict in Ukraine. To facilitate this, 97 selection points for contract service have been established.
The central military district hosts the highest number of these centers, with 30 locations, while the Moscow and Southern districts each have 21, the Eastern district has 14, and the Leningrad district has the fewest at 11.
Estimates suggest that the Russian Ministry of Defense aims to recruit at least 18,500 foreign nationals by 2026, with a focus on citizens from Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Additionally, recruitment efforts are being extended beyond Russia to countries like Bangladesh, Chad, Sudan, Burundi, and other economically disadvantaged nations in Africa and Asia.
In addition to official recruitment points, various semi-private structures linked to state security services are also involved in the process. These include organizations such as “Redoubt,” “Convoy,” “Wagner-2,” and others.
The recruitment strategies employed are not limited to promises of financial compensation and citizenship; they also involve coercive tactics. Vulnerabilities among foreign nationals, such as expiring visas, difficulties in legalizing their stay, and detention for migration violations, are being exploited.
Under these circumstances, individuals are presented with a stark choice: participation in military service or facing imprisonment for up to eight years.
Russia is expanding its recruitment of foreign nationals for military service, targeting tens of thousands by 2026. The initiative includes coercive tactics and focuses on migrants from Central Asia and other economically disadvantaged regions.