Russia trafficking foreigners to fight in Ukraine, Amnesty says

Both Moscow and Kyiv have recruited thousands of foreign nationals into their militaries since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine four and a half years ago.(AFP) — Russia is trafficking foreign nationals to fight in Ukraine, Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, citing interviews with prisoners of war whom it said were deceived into signing Russian military contracts.The victims included citizens of Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka and South Africa, some of whom were lured to Russia through fraudulent job advertisements and forced to join the military upon arrival, the London-based rights group said. An AFP investigation in June similarly revealed how Moscow was using promises of well-paid civilian jobs to lure Kenyans into fighting on the front lines.“The suffering linked … to the internationalisation of the war is affecting highly vulnerable communities and individuals around the world,” Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard told AFP in an interview coinciding with the report’s publication.Russia did not immediately comment publicly on Amnesty’s allegations.Both Moscow and Kyiv have recruited thousands of foreign nationals into their militaries since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine four and a half years ago.Ukraine estimated in April that more than 28,000 foreign nationals from 136 countries were fighting in the Russian military. Officials also believe Russia deployed about 14,000 North Korean troops to fight Ukraine’s 2024 incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.Ukraine also uses foreign fighters, although Amnesty says it cannot investigate those held in Russia because the country has designated the group a “foreign agent.”Neither Moscow nor Kyiv discloses the total number of foreign soldiers serving in its ranks.“Obviously, there are many individuals who work for the Russian state who know that the people they recruit to go to the front line are victims of trafficking,” Callamard said.“They are complicit in this phenomenon and they should be held accountable,” she said.The typical foreign national targeted by recruiters working for Russia is younger than 40, lives in a poorer country and is lured by the “promise of a job,” she said.Russia has previously dismissed accusations that it coerces foreign nationals into joining its military.Cannon fodderOnline job advertisements, often falsely promising civilian employment, are among the principal methods recruiters use to exploit foreign nationals, Amnesty said.“Then it’s coercion. Their passports are taken away. They are made to sign documents they don’t understand. They are given training they don’t understand” and used as “cannon fodder,” Callamard said.In one case, a South African truck driver was told to fly to Moscow for a driving job and had “everything” confiscated upon arrival, according to Amnesty’s report.Recruiters have also targeted foreign nationals living in Russia without legal status, promising them residency or a passport in exchange for enlisting, Amnesty said.During a supervised visit to a Ukrainian detention center in February, AFP collected similar accounts from foreign prisoners of war who had fought for Russia.Several said they were forced to sign contracts they did not understand, were poorly equipped and struggled to communicate with their superiors because of language barriers.Human trafficking, as defined by the United Nations, involves illegally recruiting, transporting or harboring people through fraud, deception or abuse of power.Callamard said the crime was characterized by the “transfer of persons,” the use of “coercive means, false promises and violence,” and a “situation of exploitation.”She called on Ukraine and the leaders of other countries whose citizens were trafficked to provide evidence that could be used to prosecute those responsible.Although she acknowledged that Ukraine was unlikely to prioritize such investigations, she urged the country to invest in them.That “would also demonstrate that Ukraine has very different values and an approach from those of Russia,” she said.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads