I Want to Live: Hundreds of Foreign Fighters from 47 Countries Captured Fighting for Russia - Kremlin Abandons Them in Ukrainian Captivity

According to Ukrainian governmental project "I Want to Live", the unified center for processing surrender requests from Russian military personnel, hundreds of foreign nationals from 47 countries have surrendered to Ukrainian forces since russia's full-scale invasion began, exposing the Kremlin's global mercenary recruitment network while Moscow refuses to repatriate them.

Foreign mercenaries remain a cornerstone of Russian propaganda. Russian Armed Forces spokespersons regularly claim thousands of British mercenaries killed in a single day, Polish voices on radios, and French special forces allegedly operating in every civilian building that Russian missiles destroy in Ukrainian cities.

This technique is called "mirroring" - attributing one's own actions, intentions, and crimes to the opponent. Russia began recruiting foreigners in 2022 alongside with recruiting prisoners from jails. Initially, the so-called Wagner PMC handled this work, functioning as cover for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff. After the elimination of Prigozhin and Wagner's leadership, recruitment came entirely under Russia's Defense Ministry control.

Inside Russia, the primary targets became labor migrants from Central Asia, offered money and russian citizenship, or placed in conditions forcing them to choose between prison or deportation and signing a contract.

On "distant fronts," the main targets became the poorest regions, primarily in countries of the so-called Global South. Russia brazenly buys people in countries its propaganda labels as friendly. Recruitment grew exponentially. In 2022, foreigners in the Russian Armed Forces numbered in the dozens. In 2023, at least 3,808 people signed contracts (based only on personal data available). In 2024, Russia managed to recruit 8,265 people, and in 2025 - 13,997. According to available data, the 2026 plan calls for 18,500 foreign citizens.

The first prisoners of war from distant countries began arriving in autumn 2023. These were Nepalis recruited with promises of citizenship and high payments. In 2026, almost every week among dozens of surrendering Russian servicemen, 2-3 turn out to be citizens of third countries, whose geography constantly expands.

Unlike Russia, Ukraine observes the Geneva Conventions. Despite being foreigners, since they served in a regular army, all hold prisoner of war status in Ukraine and are not prosecuted as mercenaries.

Ukraine does not object to their participation in exchanges, but the Russian side reluctantly takes back even its own citizens - let alone foreigners. Kashchevarova won't write about them, Moskalkova won't report on them. They lack a State Duma deputy fighting for their return like those who fight for Kadyrov's "Akhmat" forces. For Russia, these are spent material, not people for whom they bear responsibility.

The "I Want to Live" project, which facilitates surrenders of Russian forces, documented these trends, highlighting how Moscow's jobs in Russia promised to foreign recruits end in abandonment on Ukrainian battlefields. 

Sources; "I Want to Live" Telegram Channel