Askold and Dir Foundation
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Russia expands foreign military recruitment as 2026 contract numbers surpass 16,000
Russia is recruiting foreign fighters from across Asia, Africa, Latin America and other regions, with Ukrainian officials identifying nearly 49,000 recruits from 59 countries. The documented practice includes concealing military contracts behind civilian recruitment offers, restricting recruits’ freedom and withholding promised payments. More than 3,000 foreign recruits whose contracts have expired remain in the Russian military, according to the Coordination Staff.