Extract from ABC News
Ukraine says Russia has recruited at least 18,000 foreign fighters from 128 countries. (Reuters: Yulia Morozova)
In short:
In recent months, Russia has increased its recruitment of foreign soldiers through a targeted social media campaign.
The ads promise they will be part of the "non-assault troops" and offer significant compensation, but experts question these claims.
What's next?
Several countries have asked Russia to stop recruiting their citizens, but the social media adverts continue.
"We are recruiting for contract service," says an advert targeting foreigners on Russian social media network VKontakte (VK).
"If you have already tried, but were refused for some health reasons, then it makes sense to apply again."
As talks of a ceasefire for the war in Ukraine persist, Russia has ramped up its recruitment of foreign fighters.
Through a targeted social media campaign, Russia is offering citizenship and money to foreigners who join its fight.
The ads promise they will be part of the "non-assault troops" and that it will be "easy service".
This ad promises foreigners will be "non-assault" troops. (Supplied: OpenMinds/VKontakte )
But Sascha Bachmann, a professor in law and security at the University of Canberra, said the promise of safe service was "not true".
"Russia is trying to close a manpower gap. They sign people up for a promised non-combat role but they then end up as part of Moscow's meat grinder," he said.
"It is deception."
Data sourced by OpenMinds, a defence tech company, shows that by mid-2025, one in three contract announcements posted by Russian government pages was aimed at foreigners.
In total, the number of these posts has risen to more than 4,500 a month from less than 100 in early 2024.
Dr Bachmann believed the main reason Russia had increased recruitment efforts abroad was because it "has real problems recruiting from within its population".
Dr Bachmann called it "cognitive domain propaganda", which he said refers to military activities that are designed to affect the attitude of the public.
"Russia is very interested in having more foreign volunteers … because then they can say they have common power, more boots on the ground. It helps them form a fresh narrative," he said.
What's do the ads say?
"Be on the team, successful advance of our troops, yes, you should be with us," one advert reads.
This advert asks people in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Kyrgystan, Africa, India and others to contact the Russian military. (Supplied: OpenMinds/VKontakte )
All of the advertisements are written in Russian and say "military service under contract".
In one of the social media posts, a phone number is provided and people in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Africa, India and others are encouraged to call.
However, residents of other countries have been targeted too, including China, India, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Bangladesh and others in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
These countries all have some diplomatic ties with Russia, Dr Bachmann said.
All of the posts promise safe fighting experience, often saying foreigners will be "non-assault" troops.
This advert says "we accept foreigners". (Supplied: OpenMinds/VKontakte )
The ads discuss money too, with 210,000 rubles ($4,200) stated as a monthly payment.
Foreign fighters will receive "up to 3.4 million rubles on the day of signing the contract" and help of "up to 10 million rubles writing off loans and debts" one ad states.
The offer to fight for Russia is "almost irresistible", according to Kirill Nourzhanov, an associate professor at the Australian National University (ANU) Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies.
He said that for the people Russia was targeting in Central Asia, the offer equates to 10 times as much as what they might currently earn.
"And of course, the biggest carrot of them all is the prospect of acquiring Russian citizenship," he added.
Data taken from Russian search engine Yandex shows the number of searches for "contract service in the special military operation" from Russian-speaking countries had increased tenfold in 2024 and continued to grow in 2025.
Dr Nourzhanov said Russian-language social media pages were "chock-a-block" filled with recruitment advertisements for the war in Ukraine.
He said he had profiles on Russian-speaking social media channels and had seen a big increase in these posts from Russian military pages.
"The Russian government is investing in ads in the region [Central Asia] and has been for at least two years, but it has increased recently," he said.
The graphics also say people with a long list of health issues will be accepted, with one stating "we are considering those with hepatitis B, C, with HIV, drug addiction and psych records".
Another adds "we consider those with a criminal record, with parole".
A group of volunteers who joined the Russian armed forces under military contract. (Reuters: Chingis Kondarov)
How many foreigners have joined?
According to data shared by Ukrainian Brigadier General Dmytro Usov, Moscow has recruited at least 18,000 foreign fighters from 128 countries since the war began.
A further 3,388 foreigners have died fighting for Russia, he said in a post on Telegram.
Earlier this year, Russian military recruitment advertisements were circulated online in China, and North Korea has sent more than 12,000 troops to fight since last year.
North Korean soldiers have fought alongside Russia. (Reuters: Russian Defence Ministry/Handout)
It is believed that no Australian has fought for Russia during this war. The government strongly urges Australians not to travel to Russia.
"If you choose to join the Russian armed forces, you are entirely subject to Russian law," a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told the ABC.
It is unknown how many fighters from Asia, Europe and the Middle East have joined the Russian military.
The total number of African-identified recruits fighting for Russia was 1,436, originating from 36 countries, according to Ukraine's foreign minister Andriy Sybiha.
He said Russia was enticing Africans to sign contracts that he described as "equivalent to … a death sentence", and urged African governments to warn their citizens.
"The Russian command understands that there will be no accountability for the killed foreigner, so they are treated as second-rate, expendable human material,"Mr Sybiha said.
Kenya confirmed that over 200 of its citizens are fighting for Russia and South Africa said 17 of its nationals are stuck in Ukraine after being lured into joining mercenary forces.
Elsewhere, the Jordan foreign ministry called the recruitment "a violation of Jordanian law and international law" and "requested the Russian authorities to stop recruiting Jordanians".
India said 44 nationals were fighting for Russia, and it had "once again taken up the matter with the Russian authorities to have them released at the earliest".
Sri Lanka and Nepal have also asked Russia to stop recruiting its citizens.
Dr Nourzhanov said that despite several countries asking Moscow to stop this process, Russia likely does not care.
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