Lured by Money, Forced to Fight: Foreign Nationals in the Russian Army
For 2026, Russia has planned to recruit approximately 20,000 foreign nationals from Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America into its army for the war against Ukraine. Official mobilization plans have already been issued to Russian military enlistment offices. Previously, for instance, nearly 3,000 citizens from 36 African countries were recorded serving in the Russian army.
“I Want to Live” (*Khochu Zhyt*) is a state project run by Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War; it was created for Russian Armed Forces personnel and foreign nationals who wish to surrender voluntarily.
According to the “I Want to Live” project, Russia has recruited at least 13,000 Central Asian nationals for the war against Ukraine; most are detained by Russian security forces within Russia. Often lacking documents for legal residence and employment, they are coerced by Russian security agencies into signing contracts with the Russian army to avoid deportation and gain citizenship.
Citizens of Latin American and African countries are lured by promises of substantial pay and expedited Russian citizenship. Foreign students are also sent to the war, conscripted into the Russian army under threats of deportation and imprisonment, often lacking sufficient Russian language skills or knowledge of Russian laws.
Foreigners—most of whom are promised non-combat roles in the rear—are instead sent into so-called “meat assaults” (suicidal human-wave attacks). They face intimidation and beatings, and are deprived of food and water. Furthermore, the vast majority lack any combat training whatsoever. “Barrier troops” play a key role in forcing foreigners to participate in combat operations on the Russian side. These units are composed of the “Akhmat” formation (Kadyrovites), the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya), and specialized detachments made up of former law enforcement officers. Barrier troops shoot or attack with drones anyone attempting to retreat from their positions. Consequently, these foreigners—already terrified and half-starved—agree to carry out the assigned tasks.
However, some foreigners, realizing the immediate threat to their lives, surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine or reach out to the “I Want to Live” project.