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Understand How Russia Bribes Foreigners to Fight in the Ukraine War. More than 200 Prisoners Report Fraud, Blackmail, and Coercion.
Nearly 200 prisoners of war from 37 countries are currently detained in Ukraine.
They were captured after fighting for Russia and claim to have been subjected to a scheme that mixes bribery, fraud, and blackmail, revealing a global strategy to address the shortage of Russian fighters.
These accounts, released by the Ukrainian Coordination for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, help to understand how Russia bribes foreigners to fight in the Ukraine war, especially in light of the difficulty of recruiting its own population.
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Foreigners from 37 Countries Reveal How They Were Recruited
The captured prisoners come from diverse regions, including Kenya, Nepal, and Tajikistan. Despite cultural differences, they all repeat the same narrative: they were lured by unrealistic promises or direct threats.
According to Brigade General Dmitry Usov, Ukraine has identified more than 18,000 foreigners from 128 countries who have fought or are still fighting for Russia.
This number excludes the thousands of soldiers sent by North Korea as part of a military agreement.
In several countries, governments have begun to react.
South Africa has opened an investigation to determine how 17 citizens ended up on the front lines.
Why Russia Is Increasingly Relying on Foreigners
To understand how Russia bribes foreigners to fight in the Ukraine war, it is necessary to observe the internal scenario.
Moscow is facing a long war, with tremendously high casualties and growing resistance among its own citizens.
Only in 2025, Ukraine captured double the number of foreigners compared to the previous year, which had already surpassed 2023 by five times.
Fearing a repeat of the mobilization fiasco of 2022, the Kremlin is trying to avoid new compulsory call-ups. Thus, it is raising salaries, promising benefits, and pressuring immigrants.
Bribery, Blackmail, and Fraud: The Three Main Tactics
Ukrainian authorities claim that foreign recruitment relies on three pillars:
Bribery – high salaries, quick visas, access to citizenship.
Blackmail – deportation, imprisonment, or loss of documents.
Fraud – false job offers.
Immigrants from Central Asia are the primary victims. Many report direct threats and contracts signed without translation.
Thus, Russia itself has admitted to this policy.
Alexander Bastrykin stated that the government has already “captured” 80,000 newly naturalized individuals who were avoiding conscription.
Targeted Propaganda and Deceptive Offers Spread Over the Internet
OpenMinds identified an increase of over seven times in the volume of military ads aimed at foreigners since 2024.
Additionally, one-third of the ads on VKontakte now directly target citizens outside of Russia.
The approaches vary according to the audience.
For Chinese audiences, the propaganda emphasizes masculinity.
For Arabs, the promises include salaries of up to US$ 2,500, medical assistance, and “a life with all expenses paid.”
A Russian contract obtained by CNN describes benefits such as free education after three years and full supplies covered by the government.
Minimum Training and Immediate Sending to the Frontlines
Captured prisoners report receiving training of only one to two weeks before being sent to high-risk areas.
The number of casualties is staggering: 3,388 identified foreigners have already lost their lives.
The situation is so dire that Ukraine has launched a safe surrender program for foreigners fighting for Russia.
False Job Openings Expand Human Trafficking
A significant portion of the victims arrived in Russia believing they would work in construction, logistics, or security.
Kenya, Cuba, Sri Lanka, and Nepal have reported human trafficking schemes linked to military recruiters.
Thus, repression has advanced in some countries. Cuba has already sentenced 26 involved individuals. Nepal has banned work travel to Russia and Ukraine.
General Usov claims the measure has worked:
“In 2023-2024, nearly 1,000 citizens of Nepal signed contracts with the Russian army. In 2025… only one person from this country joined the Russian army.”
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