Amnesty accuses Russia of trafficking foreigners to fight in Ukraine

Report reveals foreign nationals were misled with job offers, then forced into Russia’s army upon arrival.Published On 10 Sep 202610 Sep 2026A new report by Amnesty International has accused Russia of tricking foreigners into fighting on Ukraine’s front lines in what amounts to “human trafficking”.Victims from Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka and South Africa were duped into travelling to Russia to take up well-paid civilian or non-combat jobs, then forced to join the Russian army on arrival, according to the report released on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘Our children were sold off’: The South Africans sent to fight Russia’s warlist 2 of 3Zimbabweans lured into Russia’s war as families plead for their returnlist 3 of 3Russia ‘looking for new soldiers’; Kyiv claims 83,000 dead so far in 2026end of listRussian recruiters also targeted migrants and refugees in Russia and coerced them into joining the military, the report said.“Amnesty’s research demonstrates how Russia’s Armed Forces are bolstering their ranks with economically vulnerable foreign nationals and using them as cannon fodder in the war of aggression against Ukraine,” said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty In...