Russia has involved more than 27,000 foreigners from 135 countries in the war against Ukraine: Coordination Headquarters
Ukraine has data on 27,407 foreign citizens from 135 countries who were recruited by Russia into its occupation army. About this reported Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
“Egypt, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Algeria, Syria, Morocco, Jordan are far from a complete list of countries in the Arab world whose citizens the Russian Federation is recruiting for the war against Ukraine.
In general, hundreds of foreigners are in Ukrainian captivity, and their number continues to grow. Every week, the Ukrainian Defense Forces take prisoner from one to three citizens of third countries, whom the Kremlin regime is actually sending to certain death,” – the message says.
The Coordination Headquarters noted that the “I Want to Live” project has already published information about more than 10 thousand identified living and dead foreigners who served in the Russian army and came from different parts of the world.
According to currently available intelligence data, it is known that 27,407 foreign citizens from 135 countries were recruited into the Russian army.
The Coordination Headquarters also reported that in 2025 alone, hundreds of people from Arabic-speaking countries in Africa and the Middle East ended up in the Russian occupation units.
The “I Want to Live” project presented a film about five such “adventure seekers” from Egypt, Yemen, and Somalia. They all say they went to Russia to earn money, but ended up on the front lines of a foreign war.
“I Want to Live” is a Ukrainian state project implemented by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War with the support of the Military Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.
The project was created to help servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces who want to save their lives and safely surrender to captivity. Participants in the “I Want to Live” program can choose for themselves whether to stay in Ukraine until the end of hostilities or return home as part of an exchange. All those who surrender are recorded as having been captured in battle.
The project is also aimed at citizens of the Russian Federation who are threatened with mobilization and sending to war against Ukraine and who want to avoid death.
In addition, it is intended for military personnel of the Russian Armed Forces and civilians who want to go over to the side of good: join Russian units in the Armed Forces of Ukraine or, while remaining in the Russian Federation, help Ukraine in the fight against the Putin regime.
