On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree allowing foreign nationals fighting for Russia in Ukraine to gain Russian citizenship for themselves and their families. According to the directive, those who signed contracts during Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine can apply for Russian passports for themselves, their spouses, children, and parents. They must produce documentation proving they signed up for at least one year.
People who have signed contracts with the regular armed forces or other “military formations” – a description that could apply to groups such as the Wagner mercenary organization.
The initiative aimed to increase the number of foreigners with military experience who apply to join Russian forces.
Putin refuses to disclose the number of foreigners fighting on its side in Ukraine. Reuters has previously reported on Cubans who signed up for the military in exchange for bonuses of more than 100 times the average Cuban monthly pay, as well as three Africans recruited by Wagner, two of whom were killed in action.
A source familiar with the material told Reuters last month that a declassified US intelligence analysis estimated that the Ukraine war had cost Russia 315,000 dead and wounded troops, or nearly 90% of the personnel it had when the conflict began.
Putin recruited an additional 300,000 troops in September 2023
In September 2022, Russia recruited an additional 300,000 troops in its first mobilization since World War II. There has been continuous talk that the unpopular decision could be repeated, possibly after the next presidential election in March, in which Putin is expected to win a new six-year term.
However, the Kremlin has frequently stated that no more mobilization is required because hundreds of thousands of men accepted voluntary contracts to become professional troops last year.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine has revealed the extent of their losses in the 22-month conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated last month that his military had proposed mobilizing 450,000-500,000 more people, and the Kyiv parliament began studying a contentious piece of draft law on mobilization procedures on Thursday.
