Read in Ukrainian
Truth Hounds and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) invite you to the online launch of the report, ‘Combatants, Mercenaries or Victims of Human Trafficking? Russia’s Exploitation of Foreign Fighters in Its War Against Ukraine’. The event will address the issue of Russia’s recruitment of foreign fighters and ways to combat it.
Combatants, Mercenaries or Victims of Human Trafficking? Russia’s Exploitation of Foreign Fighters in Its War Against Ukraine
Authored by Truth Hounds, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR), the report is a result of nine-month research into the recruitment practices of foreign fighters conducted by Russia in various parts of the world – Central and South Asia, the African continent, Southwest Asia and North Africa region and Latin America. The report is based on interviews with prisoners of war held in Ukraine, open-source research, and contributions from human rights experts and Ukrainian authorities.
Report presenters:
The report examines the legal status of these individuals and assesses both individual and state responsibility. Through in-depth analysis of Russia, Cuba, North Korea, Kenya, Kazakhstan, and Nepal, it concludes that most foreign recruits qualify as ordinary combatants; some may meet the legal definition of mercenaries and could face prosecution for participation in hostilities; others may qualify as victims of human trafficking. The document suggests a number of recommendations to the different actors on how to halt Russia’s predatory recruitment.
The discussion of the regional aspects of Russia’s foreign recruitment will feature representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, human rights experts, researchers, and a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of War.
Context
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has increasingly recruited foreign fighters “under contract” to compensate for significant battlefield losses. Recruits originate from Central Asia, as well as most regions of the world and countries like Syria, Cuba, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, and many others.
Often driven by economic hardship and promises of high salaries or non-combat roles, many are deployed to the front lines after minimal training. Some report coercion or deception in the recruitment process. These fighters are frequently used in high-risk “meat assault” tactics, contributing to further territorial occupation of Ukraine and undermining regional and global security.
According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the Prisoners of War in Ukraine, as of March 2026 the number of foreign recruits in the Russian army since February 2022 reached at least 27,000, whilst till the end of 2026 Russia plans to recruit a further 18,500 foreign nationals.
Read in Ukrainian
This report has been produced with the support of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the European Union (EU). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FIDH and Truth Hounds and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of AFD, NED and the EU.