Russia has recruited more than 27,000 foreigners to fight in the war against Ukraine

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that 27,407 foreign nationals from 135 countries have been identified as having been recruited into the Russian army. 

Russian occupation forces are actively recruiting people from the Arab world and Africa, particularly from Egypt, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Algeria, Syria, Morocco, and Jordan. The “I Want to Live” project has already published data on over 10,000 identified living and deceased mercenaries who fought on the side of the aggressor.

Hundreds of foreigners are currently held captive by Ukraine, and their numbers are growing by one to three people each week. In 2025 alone, hundreds of individuals from Arabic-speaking countries joined the ranks of the occupying forces. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to document new cases of third-country nationals participating in combat operations on the side of the Russian Federation. The Coordination Headquarters emphasizes the systematic nature of the recruitment of foreigners to reinforce the invaders’ units across various sections of the front.