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Russia Recruits 150 Foreign Fighters Amid Ukraine Conflict

12/27/2025

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Summary

Story summary

On December 26, Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service reported Russia recruited over 150 foreign nationals from 25 countries to fight in Ukraine, with 200 preparing to join.
Russia targets post-Soviet states and Global South, including Belarus, Tajikistan, and China.
Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, said Russia uses foreign recruits to frame the conflict as a struggle.
Kazakhstan has initiated criminal investigations into its citizens participating in the war.

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Story summary

On December 26, Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service reported Russia recruited over 150 foreign nationals from 25 countries to fight in Ukraine, with 200 preparing to join.
Russia targets post-Soviet states and Global South, including Belarus, Tajikistan, and China.
Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, said Russia uses foreign recruits to frame the conflict as a struggle.
Kazakhstan has initiated criminal investigations into its citizens participating in the war.