Russia recruits 1,500 foreigners for war against Ukraine in past year – UK intelligence

UK Intelligence, referencing Russian media, has reported that between April 2023 and the end of May 2024, Russia recruited over 1,500 foreign nationals to participate in its war against Ukraine.

The majority of volunteers came from South and East Asia (771 individuals), followed by former Soviet republics (523 individuals) and Africa (72 individuals). 

Intelligence sources suggest that the recruitment of foreign nationals into the Russian military is largely ad-hoc. The report emphasizes that financial incentives and the potential for acquiring Russian citizenship are key factors in attracting recruits. 

Also UK Intelligence notes that many foreign nationals are likely being recruited through Moscow, due to higher signing bonuses and the city's relative international accessibility.

The intelligence further adds that foreigners likely make up a very small portion of the overall new recruits in the Russian Armed Forces, with the focus primarily on domestic recruitment.

• UK intelligence has observed that Russia’s education system is becoming more ideologized, suggesting that aggressive expansionist thinking will only get more deeply rooted in Russian society.