Russia Plans to Recruit Yemenis to Fight in the War, Ukraine's Intelligence Says
Ukraine says Russian military bodies are processing the recruits through a fast-track citizenship pipeline that could send them to combat units.
- On Saturday, Sept. 19, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reported that Russia recruited at least 27 Yemeni nationals for deployment to active combat zones against Ukraine.
- Lieutenant Pervushin, head of a recruitment center in Khanty-Mansiysk, requested the FSB Border Guard Service legalize the recruits in July 2026 under expedited pathways established by Russian Presidential Decree from November 5, 2025.
- The SZRU identified that the cohort includes individuals born in 2006 and 2007, indicating Russian military bodies systematically target young foreign nationals to replenish frontline units without declaring formal nationwide mobilization.
- Amnesty International previously reported that such recruitment practices involving false promises to individuals from the Global South may amount to human trafficking under the UN's Palermo Protocol.
- These transfers coincide with deepening coordination between Moscow and Iranian-backed Houthi forces, with bilateral talks discussing potential transfers of Russian P-800 Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Ukraine is warning of Russia's plans to recruit more foreign fighters as the war continues. According to Ukraine's foreign intelligence service, Russia plans to recruit at least 27 Yemeni nationals, writes skynews. According to Kyiv Independent, this is being made possible through a decree by Vladimir Putin, which allows for the granting of citizenship and residence permits on a temporary basis. The first reports of Russia recruiting Yemeni figh…
Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Identifies 27 Yemeni Citizens Targeted for Russian Military Deployment
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SZRU) has uncovered a scheme organized by Russian military structures and the FSB Border Guard Service to recruit foreign mercenaries for the war against Ukraine, SZRU reported on September 19.
The SZRU has identified almost 30 Yemeni citizens whom the Russian Federation plans to involve in the war against Ukraine the Russian Federation plans to legalize at least 27 Yemeni citizens, and then involve <p>them in the war against Ukraine. Among them are 2006-2007 years of birth</p>.
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