Russia is reportedly coercing thousands of migrants and foreign students, including Nigerians, into joining its military efforts against Ukraine in exchange for visa renewals, according to a Bloomberg report.
European officials claim that the Kremlin is employing tactics similar to those used by the Wagner mercenary group to bolster its military numbers. The report indicates that African students and young workers are being threatened with non-renewal of visas unless they enlist in the military.
Additionally, Moscow has been enlisting prisoners and detaining Africans on work visas, forcing them to choose between deportation or combat, according to a European official. Some have managed to bribe officials to stay in the country and avoid military service.
This practice of sending coerced individuals into combat has been ongoing since the early stages of the war. These troops face high casualty rates, often being deployed in dangerous operations to protect more experienced units.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has not responded to requests for comment on these allegations.
Reports also suggest that Russia is conducting a global recruitment drive for foreign mercenaries, targeting at least 21 countries, including several African nations. Recruitment campaigns offer substantial signing bonuses and salaries to those who enlist as contract soldiers. Migrants and students seeking employment in Russia have also been lured with promises of lucrative work, only to be forced into military service.
As President Vladimir Putin aims to leverage this additional manpower to gain a strategic advantage in the conflict, his forces have made slow progress in northeastern Ukraine, suffering significant losses. The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia’s military saw over 1,200 casualties per day in May, the highest rate of the war, with an estimated 500,000 Russian personnel killed or wounded since the invasion began.
In St. Petersburg, Putin suggested that about 10,000 Russian troops are killed or wounded monthly, claiming Ukrainian losses are five times higher. Despite these losses, Russia continues to recruit volunteers to offset its casualties, avoiding a full-scale mobilization.
Western officials have noted an increase in foreign fighters among captured Russian troops, particularly Africans and Nepalis. Some of Ukraine’s allies are considering sharing this information with the countries affected.
The Group of Seven nations, preparing for a summit in Italy, are urging countries in the Global South to support Ukraine. However, many remain neutral, with their populations targeted by Moscow’s disinformation campaigns.
Last year, Reuters reported that the Wagner group had recruited African convicts for the war in Ukraine, tracing the stories of men from Tanzania, Zambia, and the Ivory Coast. Currently, around 35,000-37,000 African students are in Russia, with about 6,500 enrolling each year on scholarships, according to Yevgeny Primakov, head of Rossotrudnichestvo.
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