Cuba and Colombia, the main recruitment hubs for the Russian army in Latin America

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is now in its fifth year and shows no signs of ending. The strain on the militaries on both sides of the border has increased both countries’ reliance on recruiting thousands of foreigners, who are primarily sent to high-risk operations on the front lines. Several governments have warned against this practice and urged their citizens not to fall for the lucrative offers, which are often deceptive. A new report published on Wednesday by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and two other organizations analyzes the recruitment of foreigners in Russia and documents Moscow’s campaign to target vulnerable populations through misleading strategies.

According to Ukrainian intelligence cited in the study, 18,000 foreigners are fighting in the Russian ranks. Moscow’s army increased overseas recruitments by 30