Russia continues to recruit foreign citizens for military service to participate in the war against Ukraine. For joining the Russian army, foreigners are offered a monthly salary of $2,200, a one-time payment of $2,000, a Russian passport, free medical care and training, Deutsche Welle reported with reference to information from the UK Ministry of Defense.
According to the UK Ministry of Defense, Russia likely wants to avoid further unpopular mobilization measures at home. Given the significant losses [in Ukraine] — an average of 913 soldiers per day — the Russian Federation is exploring new opportunities to increase the number of personnel in its armed forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry mainly targets at labor migrants from Central Asian countries. According to British intelligence, in mid-2023, online advertisements for hiring migrant workers from Central Asian countries with monthly salary offers of $1,973 were distributed on the Russian segment of the Internet.
On May 15, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the simplified acquisition of Russian citizenship by foreigners who entered into a one-year contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. That was followed by frequent cases when migrants who applied for Russian citizenship were sent to military registration and enlistment offices where they were forced to enter into contracts for military service. Reports said that citizens of India and Nepal were also recruited into the Russian army and then sent to the Ukrainian front.
The governments of all countries of Central Asia have warned their citizens against participation in the Ukraine war on either side. The Central Asian countries consider their citizens’ service in the army of a foreign state a crime, falling under the criminal-code article on mercenary activity. Therefore, migrants who agreed to sign a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry will face criminal prosecution if they return to their homeland. The terms of imprisonment under this article range from 5 to 12 years in Tajikistan, from 5 to 10 years in Uzbekistan, and from 10 to 15 years in Kyrgyzstan.
