How Russia traffics foreign citizens to the front line in Ukraine

Russia is trafficking foreign citizens to the front line of the war in Ukraine, using false promises of work and remuneration to deceive people from Global South countries. Amnesty International received reports from several people who were recruited with promises of well-paid employment in Russia, but ended up being sent to combat zones in Ukraine. The scheme involves systematic deception, with recruiters presenting job proposals that did not match the reality of what was expected of the recruits. The affected citizens describe having been misled about the nature of the work and the conditions they would face, ending up being forced or pressured to participate in military operations. Amnesty International documented these cases, denouncing what it considers to be a serious violation of human rights and international law. This scheme raises concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable people from developing countries, who are enticed with promises of better living conditions and end up being used as military labor.