Jakarta. Russia is recruiting thousands of foreign nationals, many from economically struggling nations, to fight in its war in Ukraine, luring them with promises of high salaries, residency permits, and even citizenship, according to reports from Deutsche Welle (DW) and Bloomberg.

Many of these recruits are not professional soldiers but migrant workers seeking a way out of poverty. Russia reportedly offers salaries between $2,000 and $2,500 per month, a significant sum for many from countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, and Somalia.

One of them is former Indonesian Marine Second Sergeant Satria Arta Kumbara, who went viral in Indonesia after appearing in videos wearing Russian military gear, reportedly joined Russian volunteer forces and expressed a wish to regain his Indonesian citizenship.

The Indonesian Navy has rejected his request. “Satria is no longer affiliated with the Indonesian Navy,” Navy spokesman Commodore I Made Wira Hadi said, confirming that Satria was dishonorably discharged in April 2023 after a military tribunal convicted him of desertion in absentia. The ruling is final, barring any possibility of reinstatement.

In a video, Satria claimed he was unaware that signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense would lead to the loss of his Indonesian citizenship and appealed to President Prabowo Subianto and Foreign Minister Sugiono for help. “Only President Prabowo can end my contract now,” Satria said, adding that he “never wanted to lose” his citizenship.

In another case, a 21-year-old man from Walasmulla, Sri Lanka, told DW last year that he signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense after hearing from another Sri Lankan that a year of service would secure Russian citizenship for him and his parents. He said he took the job due to Sri Lanka’s dire economic conditions.

Bloomberg, citing European officials, reported that Russia has pressured thousands of migrant workers and foreign students to join its armed forces, threatening not to renew their visas if they refuse. Among the recruits are individuals from Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Cuba, with most coming from poorer nations in the Global South.

Since the start of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has struggled to replenish its frontline forces, forcing the Kremlin to expand recruitment beyond its borders. According to analysts at Poland’s Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), Russia has targeted foreign nationals, including economic migrants from former Soviet republics already residing in Russia and individuals willing to travel to Russia for enlistment.  

In May 2022, President Vladimir Putin lifted the upper age limit for foreign recruits, and by September 2022, Russia enacted a law simplifying citizenship acquisition for foreigners who sign at least a one-year contract with the Defense Ministry and serve in hostilities for six months. These recruits and their families can now obtain Russian citizenship without prior residency or a five-year stay in Russia, incentivizing enlistment among those seeking better economic opportunities.

Journalistic investigations by BBC Russian and Mediazona have identified more than 500 foreign nationals from 28 countries, including Sri Lanka and the United States, who have been killed fighting for Russia as of July 2025.

Putin claimed in May that up to 60,000 people “volunteer” to join Russia’s military each month.

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