Dmytro Kolev, specially for FAR:
During the two years of full-scale war, Russia faced a crisis in its mobilization policy: it became much more difficult to recruit Russians for the war, as the number of people willing to go to the front even for money decreased with each passing year month of war. At the same time, Russia seizes every opportunity to attract foreign mercenaries to cover the shortage of human resources. And it often does so illegally, disregarding international law and human rights.
In particular, Russia is dragging many citizens of the Global South into the war. Taking advantage of the fact that the population of countries with a difficult economic situation is unable to make a decent living at home, the Russian special services are recruiting them to participate in the war against Ukraine. For example, the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom reports that during the advance to Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, Russia reinforced its units with the Africa Corps, which is controlled by the Russian Ministry of Defense, regular Russian troops and units of ” Storm Z”.
About the “African Corps” Russia recruits mercenaries from Central Africa. In particular, these are residents of Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and Uganda. Russia is sending citizens from very low-income countries to the front because the internal mobilization resources of the aggressor country are dwindling. To this end, Russia has increased its efforts to agitate, mobilize and send citizens from very low-income countries to the front. In particular, together with the Russians, the Kremlin recruits and trains citizens of Syria and Nepal.
According to CNN, the Kremlin has recruited nearly 15,000 Nepalis to participate in the war against Ukraine. Upon arrival in Russia, they receive Russian passports and are then mobilized into the Russian army. “I did not join the Russian army for fun. I didn't have any job opportunities. But looking back, it was the wrong decision. We didn't think that they would send us to the front so quickly and how terrible the situation would be,” says Ramchandra Khadka, a foreign mercenary, in a commentary for CNN.
A specially created unit of the Russian Ministry of Defense is responsible for recruiting Africans to take part in “meat” attacks on Ukrainian territory. The mercenaries are lured with a $2,000 starting sum to sign a contract, promising a monthly salary of $2,200, health insurance and a Russian passport for the soldier and his family. “The African Corps” of the Russian Defense Ministry was established in December 2023 and has more than 2,000 soldiers and officers, as well as experienced mercenaries. Many of them previously served in the “Wagner” group. The divisions of the “African Corps” most likely they were previously deployed in Syria, Libya, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Russia no longer has sufficient resources to continue the war, but continues it anyway, spreading its destructive influence to other regions of the world. The aggressor state does not even try to follow a peaceful path, instead it does everything possible to prolong the war for a longer period. Russia's goal is clear: in this war, it seeks to weaken not only Ukraine and its Western partners, but also the countries of the Global South, creating hybrid threats to the region, such as a food crisis or recruiting people to fight against Ukraine.
In order to end the war as soon as possible and prevent the Kremlin's criminal plans from becoming a reality, it is necessary that as many countries as possible join the Global Peace Summit to be held in Switzerland on June 15-16. The summit should be the first step towards rebuilding the global security architecture and countering the aggression of some states. Representatives of over 80 countries are expected to participate in it. The Ukrainian formula for peace, as you know, includes 10 points, including bringing Russia to justice for violations of international law and establishing a just peace, which in turn is the basis for leveling Russian hybrid threats not only against Ukraine, but also against the global security.