foreign mercenaries

UK sanctions migrant recruitment networks feeding Russia’s war against Ukraine

The United Kingdom has imposed new sanctions on people and companies accused of helping Russia exploit foreign migrants for its war against Ukraine, the British government said in a news release.

5 May, 07:04 PM

Ukraine warns African governments as Russia draws Kenyans into its war

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reacted after reports that Russia had enlisted Kenyans to fight against Ukraine on Moscow’s side.

24 April, 01:25 PM

Cameroon: 16 citizens killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Cameroon said Russia confirmed the deaths of 16 Cameroonian citizens who were fighting with Russian forces against Ukraine, Reuters reported on April 7.

8 April, 02:10 AM

Ukraine extradites Azerbaijani who fought for Russian forces

Ukraine has extradited a foreign national—an Azerbaijani citizen who fought on Russia’s side in the war—police said on April 4.

4 April, 09:40 PM

Russia bans mercenary recruitment in select countries, report says

Russian authorities have compiled a "blacklist" of countries whose citizens are barred from being recruited as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, independent Russian outlet Important Stories reported on Feb. 23.

23 February, 08:00 PM

Ukraine identifies two Nigerians killed fighting for Russia in Luhansk Oblast

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) identified two Nigerian citizens killed while fighting for Russia in Luhansk Oblast as members of the Russian 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, with both eliminated by drone strike in late November 2025 after minimal or no training, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported on Feb. 12.

12 February, 09:55 PM

Promised contracts and citizenship: Russia recruited South Africans for war against Ukraine via Discord

Russia recruited South African gamers through the Discord gaming app to fight in the war against Ukraine, promising military contracts and benefits, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 7.

7 January, 03:09 PM

South Africa probes recruitment of citizens sent to fight in Ukraine

South African authorities said they are investigating the recruitment of 17 citizens who were lured abroad under false pretenses and later sent to fight in Ukraine’s Donbas region, Reuters reported on Nov. 6.

6 November 2025, 12:10 PM

CCD: Russia runs global mercenary recruitment campaign

Russia is conducting a mercenary recruitment campaign across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, disguising it as “cooperation” with local governments and “security agencies,” the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council reported on Oct. 8.

9 October 2025, 09:24 AM

Russia recruits Afghan, Iranian soldiers for Ukraine – intel

Russia is recruiting former service members, special forces fighters and intelligence operatives from various countries to participate in the war against Ukraine, Oleh Aleksandrov of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service told news agency Ukrinform on Oct. 5.

5 October 2025, 02:05 PM

Ukrainian forces kill pro-Russian Polish activist Jerzy Tyc fighting for Russia

Ukrainian Defense Forces have killed Jerzy Tyc, a pro-Russian activist from Poland who was fighting on the side of Russian forces. His death was first reported by Russian propaganda media.

22 September 2025, 01:26 PM

Kenyan tourist ends up in Putin’s army, captured by Ukraine

Kenyan national named Evans was captured on the Vovchansk front, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian soldiers from 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade reported on Sept. 17.

17 September 2025, 01:35 PM

Russia recruits 100+ Turkmen citizens for its war on Ukraine in 2025

In the first six months of 2025, Russia brought at least 122 citizens of Turkmenistan into its war against Ukraine, the I Want to Live project reported on Aug. 21.

22 August 2025, 08:57 AM

Russia recruits record number of Kyrgyz nationals for Ukraine war

Russia recruited a record number of Kyrgyz citizens in the first half of 2025, Ukraine’s state-run I Want to Live project reported on Aug. 5, citing data from the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

5 August 2025, 12:40 PM

Russian-recruited mercenaries from Middle East regret fighting in Ukraine, few return home

Foreign mercenaries recruited by Russia from the Middle East often come to regret their decision once they reach the front lines in Ukraine, but their chances of returning home are slim, The Insider reported on July 14.

14 July 2025, 02:33 PM

HUR troops capture Nigerian soldier fighting for Russia in Zaporizhzhya sector — video

Troops from the Freedom of Russia Legion, a unit operating under Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence agency, have captured a Nigerian-born fighter in the Zaporizhzhya sector who was serving with Russia’s 503rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, HUR reported on July 5.

5 July 2025, 09:57 PM

UN flags concerns over publicized POW videos in Ukraine

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has voiced concern over the publication of videos featuring Russian prisoners of war held in Ukraine, the organization wrote in its report, published on June 30.

1 July 2025, 11:22 AM

Ukrainian forces capture two Cameroonian mercenaries fighting for Russia - video

Ukrainian soldiers have captured two Cameroonian citizens — Metugene Una-na Jean Pafe and Anatole Frank on the Siversk axis (Donetsk Oblast), soldiers from the 20th Separate Drone Systems Regiment reported on Facebook on June 29.

30 June 2025, 09:02 AM

Chinese POW says his Russian bank account was frozen

Wang Guangjun, a Chinese citizen captured by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield, said he “followed someone else’s ideas” and ended up serving in the Russian military.

26 April 2025, 01:08 AM

Chinese POWs posted videos of their enlistment, training in Russia

Chinese nationals captured by Ukraine on the battlefield have previously recorded and published snippets from their journey to enlist in the Russian military and fight against Ukraine, public broadcaster Suspilne reported on April 16.

17 April 2025, 02:04 AM

foreign mercenaries

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