As war losses near 2 million, Russia accused of trafficking foreign recruits from Africa, Asia

With the war in Ukraine nearing its fifth year and combined casualties approaching two million, both Russia and Ukraine face a manpower crisis. The Ukrainian human rights organization Truth Hounds has accused Russia of potentially trafficking foreign nationals from Africa and Asia into military service. According to Truth Hounds, Russia is using coercive and deceptive recruitment practices, targeting vulnerable individuals with promises of high-paying civilian jobs, only to compel them to sign military contracts, often in Russian without translation. The organization documented cases of recruits being beaten, tortured, or otherwise coerced into service. Truth Hounds estimates that over 18,000 foreigners had joined the Russian army as of late last year, a number that continues to increase.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories