Russians Trying to Recruit Citizens of Central Asia Countries Due to Lack of People Willing to Fight

The number of citizens of the Russian Federation who want to take part in the war in Ukraine decreases every day. To partially preserve the possibility of forming new reserves, the Kremlin is increasingly trying to attract foreign citizens to its armed forces.

The Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine posted a relevant report on its official Telegram channel.

It is reported that the Moscow region is taking the lead in recruiting foreigners.

“To form new army units, the local leadership instructed the employees of military commissariats and police departments to ‘conduct campaigning activities’ among citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan,” the report reads.

Those who sign a contract and go to Ukraine are offered Russian citizenship in addition to financial incentives.

The special services also note that four battalions are formed and trained in Chechnya to further participate in the war in Ukraine.

“A significant part of ‘volunteers’ in the formed battalions are local young men kidnapped by the Chechen security forces, mostly from the countryside. Under the threat of criminal prosecution on trumped-up charges or under torture, they are forced to sign contracts to participate in the war in Ukraine,” the Chief Directorate of Intelligence notes.

At the same time, the practice of abducting men to replenish volunteer military units fighting in Ukraine causes an outcry among the residents of Chechnya. Citizens of the republic are outraged by the fact that Kadyrov sends Muslims to participate and die in a “foreign” war between two Christian nations. Such a policy of Kadyrov is perceived as a betrayal of Muslims.

Bohdan Marusyak