Russia deploys foreign fighters in Huliaipole assaults, Ukrainian military says
Russia involves foreigners in assaults in Huliaipole sector: Ukrainian military captures Indonesian citizen Russian forces are using foreigners, particularly from African and Asian countries, in assault operations in the Huliaipole sector, the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces reported. Ukrainian troops recently captured an Indonesian citizen who was fighting as part of the Russian army.
Photo credit: AFPAccording to the Ukrainian military, over the past week in the Huliaipole sector, the Defence Forces killed and wounded about 900 Russian soldiers. This is the highest figure in the past two months, they say.
Due to significant losses, the Russian command is regrouping and rotating units. In particular, within Russia’s 5th Combined Arms Army, the 57th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade is being replaced by soldiers from the 60th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade.
The primary assault tactic of the Russian army remains advancing in small infantry groups of one to five soldiers.
Ukrainian military personnel have also documented foreigners taking part in assaults. According to the 7th Corps, foreign nationals are recruited under the guise of civilian job offers or safe contract service.
After arriving in Russia, recruits have their documents and mobile phones confiscated, their ability to communicate restricted, and are later sent to the front line.
According to Ukrainian air assault troops, an Indonesian citizen became one of these soldiers. He served in the 39th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the Russian armed forces before being captured by the Defence Forces of Ukraine.
Earlier, Botswana’s Ministry of International Relations urged its citizens to be cautious and thoroughly verify job advertisements abroad. According to the ministry, Russia is increasingly using fake job offers to recruit foreigners for the war against Ukraine.
Russia has already recruited 45,959 foreign nationals from 151 countries into its armed forces as of October 2026, Secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Dmytro Usov said.
According to Amnesty International, Russia’s military and political leadership recruits foreign nationals for the war against Ukraine through deception, which could be classified as human trafficking because of widespread abuses.
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