Photo: Russia has begun assigning numbers to foreign mercenaries using a system similar to that of concentration camps
Russia uses a serial number system to identify foreign mercenaries it is recruiting to fight in the war against Ukraine.
The numbers are applied directly to the skin or equipment using permanent dyes, such as henna and jagua. If the mark wears off or becomes invisible, it is reapplied.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Russian security forces also check foreigners for the presence of such numbers. In particular, police stop students and migrant workers in an attempt to identify mercenaries who may have deserted.
Intelligence officials speculate that such a system may be used not only to monitor foreign military personnel but also to conceal actual casualties. The dead may be left on the battlefield as unidentified persons, while the mercenaries themselves may be recorded as missing in action.
The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) shares the collected data with international partners and law enforcement agencies for use in future international investigations.
Source: Main Intelligence Directorate.
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