Russia is using foreign nationals from more than 40 countries in its war against Ukraine, often sending them ahead of its own troops. Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, said this in an interview with Ukrinform.
He noted that Russian troop losses are increasing. Average daily losses range from 1,200 to 1,400 personnel, sometimes reaching 1,500. The figure includes those killed and seriously wounded.
“Russia needs to simultaneously replace its losses and expand its forces if it wants to accomplish its further military objectives. That is why Russia is looking for additional manpower outside its own borders as well,” Ivashchenko said.
The head of Defence Intelligence added that Moscow is using foreign nationals from more than 40 countries, including countries in Central Asia, Africa and Latin America.
“They are predominantly used in assault units. In intercepted communications, the Russians themselves call them ‘allies’ and often send them ahead of their own troops,” Ivashchenko said.
Russia recruits foreigners for the war to compensate for military losses without resorting to new overt waves of mobilisation, while also gaining access to cheaper and less politically sensitive manpower. Chinese nationals, some of whom were captured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as North Koreans who fought in Russia’s Kursk region, have served alongside Russian forces.
According to Ivashchenko, some of these people end up in the war after being deceived. They travel to Russia looking for work and sign contracts, sometimes without even understanding what they are signing.
Ukraine is working with countries whose citizens Russia is attempting to recruit in order to reduce the scale of such recruitment and prevent Moscow from freely using foreign nationals in its war against Ukraine.
Ivashchenko stressed that foreign recruits do not solve Russia’s manpower problem. They can only partially compensate for its losses.
