The aggressor state, Russia, has importantly intensified the run to recruit abroad mercenaries for war against Ukraine: it recruits a surviving force in Central Africa, in peculiar Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and Uganda – informed the Chief Board of Military Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR).
According to Ukrainian intelligence, this process is directed by a specially created defence ministry unit in Moscow. Its task is to recruit Africans to participate in "meat" attacks on Ukraine based on direct clashes with Ukrainian forces.
The Russian offer to African mercenaries is to include an first fee of $2,000 for signing the contract. They then propose a monthly wage of $2,200, along with wellness insurance. Those who choose to fight full-time on the Russian side against Ukraine can besides receive a proposal to grant Russian citizenship, both for soldiers and their families.
Non-Russians in War
The exact number of citizens from outside the post-Soviet area, who have been actively participating in Russia since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, whether as members of the Russian army or working in private military companies, is unknown. Information about them is little common in the media and social networks than during the Donbas conflict, and sometimes is more based on speculation than on facts.
In 2014, erstwhile Russia started a hybrid war against Ukraine, hundreds of volunteers from abroad set off for Donbas to fight on the Russian side. The largest group were the Serbs, whose number reached 100-300 people at the peak.
However, it is not only citizens of Serbia but besides cultural Serbaches from neighbouring Balkan countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo. Among the main reasons for their accession to the war are the “Slovene solidarity” and gratitude to Russia for its support and hatred of the West, which supports Ukraine.
In recruiting mercenaries to participate in the war in Ukraine, Russia heads towards 3rd planet countries, especially those in which it has military forces. The main recruitment area is Syria. Talks about the possible engagement of Syrians in the conflict have been taking place since the first weeks of the Russian invasion. In March 2022, Russian defence minister, Sergei Szojgu, reported that his ministry received over 16,000 applications from citizens of mediate East countries who would like to fight in Ukraine.
