Ukraine has identified more than 28,000 foreign nationals who have joined Russian forces in the war, with citizens of dozens of countries also among those captured on the battlefield, according to Ukrainian officials.
The figures were presented by Brigadier General Dmytro Usov, secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, during a briefing on a report examining foreign recruitment into the Russian military.
According to Usov, Ukraine currently holds prisoners of war from 48 countries who fought on Russia’s side.
“As of today, we have citizens of 48 countries in captivity. These are hundreds of individuals, not just dozens,” he said.
Among those most frequently represented are citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Nepal, and Kyrgyzstan.
Ukrainian authorities say the number of identified foreign recruits continues to rise. Usov noted that Ukraine has so far verified the identities of 28,391 individuals who joined Russian forces.
“This is the number we know directly — with confirmed personal data, including names and citizenship,” he said.
In total, citizens of 136 countries are believed to be serving in Russia’s military structures, according to the Coordination Headquarters. This figure does not include North Korean troops, which Usov said number around 14,000.
He added that the real number of foreign fighters is likely higher.
“We estimate that an additional 25–30% could be added to this figure — people we have not yet identified but expect to verify,” Usov said.
The data also indicates that at least 3,080 foreign nationals signed contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defense but were not released after their contracts expired.
At the same time, Ukrainian officials say they have confirmed at least 5,149 deaths among foreign fighters.
Usov noted that recruitment efforts are intensifying. Russia plans to sign contracts with 18,500 foreign nationals in 2026, compared to 13,997 in 2025.
Ukrainian officials say the findings point to a large-scale and growing international recruitment network supporting Russia’s war effort.
