Amnesty International Accuses Russia of Human Trafficking in Foreign Military Recruitment

Amnesty International published a report on September 10 stating that Russia's recruitment of foreign nationals to fight in Ukraine amounts to human trafficking. The organization claims that Moscow uses deceptive, coercive, and exploitative practices to enlist citizens from low income countries, particularly those from the Global South, including Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, and Somalia.

According to the report, recruiters lure individuals with false promises of civilian or non combat roles, lucrative payments, and pathways to Russian citizenship. Amnesty International also notes that Russian authorities exploit migrants within Russia by using expiring residence permits, overstayed work visas, or alleged criminal offenses to coerce them into military service as an alternative to deportation or detention.

Once enlisted, the report states that foreign nationals often sign documents in languages they do not understand. Many are deployed to active combat zones with minimal training, sometimes after only two weeks. The report describes instances where commanders restrict movement, seize passports, and threaten those who attempt to leave with imprisonment or death.

Data from Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War indicates that 27,407 foreign nationals from at least 135 countries were identified as fighting for Russia as of March 30. This figure rose from over 18,000 in November. Much of this data is collected from prisoners of war, including those who surrender through the I Want to Live project.

Agnès Callamard, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, stated that the level of exploitation meets the definition of human trafficking under the UN Palermo Protocol and called for Russia to immediately end these practices.