UN Commission Confirms Russia's Global Recruitment Network - Foreigners From 17 Nations Found Fighting in Ukraine

The UN International Commission on the war in Ukraine has confirmed in its latest report that Russia is recruiting foreign nationals into its occupying forces.

The Commission documented cases involving citizens from 17 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America who participated in combat operations on Russia's side - either voluntarily or through deception. UN representatives interviewed men from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nepal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkey and Yemen who are now Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The investigation established that these men were recruited into the Russian armed forces under various circumstances by both Russian government representatives and private recruiters. Most had no military experience and did not understand Russian. They signed contracts with Russia's armed forces without realizing what they were doing. Some foreigners were recruited while serving sentences in russian detention facilities, including against their will. One man who refused to sign a contract with the Russian army reported that a recruiter told him: "I will make sure you end up at the 'special military operation.'"

After training - typically lasting from one week to 30 days - they were forcibly sent to the front lines, putting their lives at risk. Some reached out to their embassies in Ukraine, but most never received any help.

According to available data, more than 24,000 representatives of 135 foreign countries and unrecognized territories have fought or continue fighting against Ukraine as part of russian armed forces recruitment efforts. The "I Want to Live" project has published data on over 10,000 foreigners from more than 100 countries, with thousands of confirmed deaths. Ukrainian Defense Forces have already captured hundreds of mercenaries from 45 countries, with their numbers increasing by 2-3 people weekly.

These alarming figures will continue rising until donor country governments stop allowing recruitment of their citizens for certain death, and the international community makes every possible effort to end the criminal activity of the Russian state.

The Russia Africa Corps phenomenon and jobs in Russia schemes have proven particularly deadly for africans fighting for Russia and other foreign nationals lured by false promises. 

Sources: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights official report, I Want to Live Telegram Channel