Amnesty International has accused Russia of illegally recruiting and trafficking foreign nationals to fight in its war against Ukraine, alleging that vulnerable people were deceived into signing military contracts.
In a report published Thursday, the rights organisation said it interviewed prisoners of war from Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka and South Africa who claimed they had been misled about the nature of their recruitment.
According to Amnesty, some foreigners were attracted to Russia through fake job advertisements promising civilian employment. Upon arrival, they were allegedly pressured or deceived into joining the Russian armed forces and deployed to the battlefield.
The allegations follow an AFP investigation in June that found Kenyan nationals had reportedly been recruited with promises of well-paid civilian jobs before being sent to fight in Ukraine.
Amnesty Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said the international recruitment of foreign fighters was causing particular harm to vulnerable communities in poorer countries.
She alleged that individuals working for the Russian state may have knowingly participated in recruiting people who ultimately became victims of trafficking.
Russia has previously rejected allegations that foreigners were coerced into joining its military and had not immediately responded to Amnesty’s latest claims.
Both Russia and Ukraine have recruited foreign nationals since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine estimated in April that more than 28,000 foreigners from 136 countries were serving in Russian forces. Ukrainian officials have also said Russia deployed around 14,000 North Korean troops during fighting linked to Ukraine’s 2024 incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
Ukraine also has foreign fighters in its ranks, although Amnesty said its ability to investigate recruitment among foreign nationals held in Russia is limited because Moscow has designated the organisation a “foreign agent”.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine publicly discloses the total number of foreign nationals serving in their militaries.
Amnesty said the alleged recruitment practices raise serious questions about trafficking, accountability and the exploitation of economically vulnerable people amid the continuing war.
