A recent report has uncovered a disturbing trend of Russia recruiting hundreds of Yemeni men to fight in its war in Ukraine. These men were lured to Russia under false pretenses, promising high-paying jobs and Russian citizenship, only to be coerced into the military and sent to the front lines in Ukraine.
It is reported that at least 200 Yemeni men were forcibly conscripted into the Russian military in September, with little training before being deployed to fight in Ukraine. Videos have surfaced showing the dire situation these men are facing, including being under bombardment and forced to carry out dangerous tasks.
This recruitment scheme is not limited to Yemeni men, as reports indicate that North Korea has sent troops to aid Russia, and men from India and Nepal have also been lured into fighting for Moscow under false pretenses.
Russia's ties with Iran and its proxy forces, like the Houthis, have strengthened since the conflict in Ukraine began. The Houthis have been instrumental in coordinating the recruitment of foreign fighters for Russia, with reports suggesting that Russia has provided targeting data to aid the group in their attacks.
The extent of the conscription of foreign fighters into Russia's military remains unclear, but it highlights the lengths to which Moscow is willing to go to bolster its forces amid high casualty rates in Ukraine.
