Recruitment surge and national origins
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on October 20 that 45,959 foreigners from 151 countries and unrecognized territories have signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The Kremlin lures individuals into signing a contract in exchange for Russian citizenship and monetary compensation. In the first nine months of 2026, the Kremlin identified 16,168 foreign recruits, a number that surpasses the total number of foreign recruits in 2025. The agency estimates that Russia aims to recruit up to 18,500 foreigners by the end of the year, but the current recruitment pace suggests the number of new soldiers could reach about 21,500.
Most recruits come from Russia-friendly countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Belarus. Other recruits come from Africa and Latin American countries. As of October 1, 2026, 1,449 citizens of Colombia, 699 of Burundi, 530 of Zimbabwe, and 503 of Peru have signed contracts.
| Country | Contracted Citizens (as of Oct 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Colombia | 1,449 |
| Burundi | 699 |
| Zimbabwe | 530 |
| Peru | 503 |
Motivations and prisoner data
Data gathered by the "I Want to Live" project, which is a project within the Coordination Headquarters intended for Russian soldiers who wish to surrender, provides specific details regarding the motivations and fates of these recruits. Survey findings show that 46.7% of recruits signed the contract to obtain Russian citizenship. A deceptive reality exists because 28% of the recruits were "unaware they would be sent into combat" after they signed their agreements. Many have been sent to the front lines in Ukraine, where they face death or capture. Regarding battlefield outcomes, 48.8% of recruits were taken prisoner by Ukraine’s Armed Forces after being wounded. Additionally, 79% of these prisoners want to return to Russia during a prisoner exchange.
