More than 1,500 mercenaries from 48 countries—Europe, Asia, Africa, and America—are fighting on the side of Russia in the war against Ukraine. According to a report by Vazhnyye Istorii, citing data from the Unified Medical Information and Analytical System (EMIAS), between April 2023 and the end of May 2024, more than 1,500 foreign mercenaries were recruited in Moscow alone for the war against Ukraine.
Hundreds of foreigners passed through the selection point for military service under contract in Moscow, located at Yablochkova Street, building 5. According to the report, nearly 300 foreigners are "living" there in apartment 302.
The publication confirmed that dozens of foreigners from this address participated in the war in Ukraine. Some of them died or were taken prisoner, while others completed their contract and left the Russian military.
Vazhnyye Istorii identified the countries of origin for more than 1,300 foreigners who passed through the recruitment point during this period. The highest number of volunteers came from South and East Asia (771 people), followed by former Soviet republics (523 people) and Africa (72 people).
Country of origin for 158 people is unknown.
The largest number of mercenaries came from Nepal, with at least 603 people from that country visiting the Moscow recruitment point. In early October 2023, the Nepalese government asked the Kremlin not to recruit Nepalese into the Russian army. However, journalists found four cases where Nepali citizens were recruited in January and February 2024.
Additionally, dozens of EU citizens and two US citizens were found to have gone to fight for Russia. At least 34 citizens from European countries passed through the recruitment point in Moscow, with three-quarters of them coming from countries Russia considers "unfriendly" due to their support of Ukraine—Latvia (four mercenaries), Bulgaria (two mercenaries), Italy (two mercenaries), France (two mercenaries), Bosnia and Herzegovina (two mercenaries). Serbia is the leader among European countries, with eight mercenaries.
Furthermore, 71 people who joined the Russian army are from Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt (31 people), Algeria (seven people), Iran (seven people), Iraq (two people), Turkey (two people), Lebanon (one person), Syria (one person), and others.
In addition, foreigners from African countries with high unemployment and poverty levels are also fighting for Russia. These include 26 citizens of Ghana, 10 citizens of Cameroon, eight citizens of Senegal, six citizens of Nigeria, two citizens of Togo, and one citizen of Somalia.
According to the journalists, former Soviet countries are the largest source of recruits for Russia's army after Nepal. The most recruits came from Tajikistan (86 people), Belarus (71 people), Uzbekistan (71 people), Kyrgyzstan (64 people), and Kazakhstan (59 people).
