Russia has enlisted more than 24,000 foreign combatants from 44 different countries since launching its full-scale offensive in Ukraine in early 2022, according to official data released by Ukrainian authorities.
The figures, compiled by Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War, cover the period from the invasion’s start through late 2025. The data, sourced partly from inside Russian military channels, reveals a wide-reaching recruitment effort spanning continents.
Central Asia emerged as the primary source of foreign fighters, with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan contributing 11,157 individuals combined. At least 1,399 of these recruits have been killed in action, the agency stated.
A spokesperson for the Coordination Headquarters described the recruitment strategy as targeting “the most vulnerable populations in the world’s poorest nations,” operating through what they called “bribery, deception, and coercion.”
Several countries have taken steps to counter this flow. South Africa and India have implemented measures to prevent recruitment and facilitate the return of their citizens fighting for Russia. Kenya has charged one individual with human trafficking. The Russian embassy in Nairobi denied state involvement while acknowledging that foreigners may voluntarily enlist.
Sri Lankan authorities launched a probe in 2024 into alleged recruitment networks, reportedly arresting two retired military officers. The investigation’s status remains unclear.
British Defence Secretary John Healey noted that Russia’s growing dependence on foreign recruitment stems from staggering battlefield losses. A Center for Strategic & International Studies report estimated Russian casualties—including killed, wounded, and missing—at approximately 1.2 million between February 2022 and December 2025.
Ukraine has sustained roughly half that number, according to the same analysis.
The Coordination Headquarters indicated Russia has halted recruitment from Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, and Pakistan, which collectively supplied at least 1,794 fighters. Of the 751 Sri Lankans recruited, at least 275 have been killed.
One missing Sri Lankan fighter, 45-year-old Ulpakada Pathira Arachchilage Mahesh Suranjith Karunanayake, disappeared after serving a year in the Russian military. His wife reported that 3.7 million Russian rubles ($48,000) had been removed from his account by his commander before he vanished.
The Ukrainian agency alleged that Russian officers frequently steal signing bonuses, which range from 1 to 4 million rubles ($13,000 to $52,000). Recruitment occurs through online chatbots, social media advertisements, and local agents paid to find candidates.
Karunanayake’s wife stated he was assured by a Sri Lankan agent that he “would not be sent to the frontline” before paying a local recruiter who has since gone into hiding.