Story perspectives

Moscow Migrants Pressured to Enlist or Face Deportation

9/16/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Migrants in Moscow face pressure to enlist in the military or face deportation.
Yusuf, an Uzbek migrant, was assaulted by police for refusing to join.
A 2022 decree by President Putin allows foreign recruits to obtain fast-track citizenship, increasing enlistment rates.
By September 2024, at least 47 Uzbeks and 51 Tajiks were reported killed in combat.
Kazakh nationals are also participating, with some fighting for Ukraine due to personal connections or beliefs.

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Story summary

Migrants in Moscow face pressure to enlist in the military or face deportation.
Yusuf, an Uzbek migrant, was assaulted by police for refusing to join.
A 2022 decree by President Putin allows foreign recruits to obtain fast-track citizenship, increasing enlistment rates.
By September 2024, at least 47 Uzbeks and 51 Tajiks were reported killed in combat.
Kazakh nationals are also participating, with some fighting for Ukraine due to personal connections or beliefs.