Amnesty accuses Russia of trafficking foreigners to fight in Ukraine

What the report says

Amnesty International has accused Russia of deceiving foreign nationals into military service for the war in Ukraine, saying the practice can amount to human trafficking. In a report released Thursday, the rights group said people from Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka and South Africa were drawn to Russia by promises of civilian or non-combat work, only to be compelled to join the Russian army after arriving.

The report says recruiters used misleading online job ads, local intermediaries and promises of high pay and bonuses to attract economically vulnerable people. Amnesty said it interviewed prisoners of war at two Ukrainian camps between 2024 and 2026, as well as foreign nationals serving with Russian forces, relatives, lawyers, activists and journalists. It also described cases in which recruits said passports and phones were taken away and their movement was restricted after they signed contracts.

According to Amnesty, the findings show Russia is bolstering its forces with foreigners and using them in the conflict against Ukraine. The organization said it could not independently examine similar allegations involving Ukraine’s military because it lacks access to prisoners held in Russia. The report also notes that Russia has previously rejected claims that it coerces foreign recruits.

The issue matters because it raises questions about wartime recruitment, exploitation of migrants and refugees, and possible violations of international law. Al Jazeera reported the findings alongside broader estimates of foreign fighters in both armies, underscoring how the conflict has drawn in people from multiple regions far beyond the battlefield.