Russia recruits thousands of African and South Asian fighters through deception and trafficking for Ukraine war

Russia has enlisted thousands of men from Africa and South Asia to fight in Ukraine, often through deception and human trafficking networks, according to Channel 4 News investigation. The report documents cases of Bangladeshi men specifically deceived into frontline combat roles. This recruitment strategy reflects Russia's manpower shortages in its ongoing war and raises international concerns about labor exploitation and trafficking in conflict zones. The practice involves intermediaries who misrepresent military service terms to vulnerable workers in developing nations.