In a desperate attempt to boost its flagging manpower in the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Russian government has resorted to coercing thousands of African students and migrant workers into joining its military forces, according to European officials.
Citing anonymous sources, Bloomberg reported on June 9th that Russian authorities have been threatening African nationals studying or working in the country with deportation unless they agree to fight alongside Russian troops in the conflict. This tactic was first employed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group before being adopted more broadly by the Russian military.
Some Africans on temporary work visas have even been detained and forced to choose between being deported or taking up arms for Russia, the report stated. While Russia has also been enlisting convicted criminals to bolster its ranks, the recruitment of foreign students and migrant laborers represents a new low in the Kremlin's efforts to sustain its faltering invasion of Ukraine.
This is not the first time Russia has turned to outside sources to shore up its military capabilities. Last September, the UK's Ministry of Defense reported that Russia was actively recruiting foreigners in neighboring countries, as well as exploiting migrant workers already within its borders, to compensate for mounting casualties.
"The push to recruit foreigners and migrant workers allows the Kremlin to acquire additional personnel for its war effort in the face of mounting casualties," the ministry said at the time.
With its own citizens increasingly reluctant to fight in the unpopular war, Russia has resorted to increasingly desperate measures to find new recruits, even if it means strong-arming vulnerable African students and workers into service. This latest development underscores the growing strain on Russia's military resources as its invasion of Ukraine continues to stall.