Ukrainian authorities: Russia plans to recruit around 20.000 foreigners during 2026

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said today that Russia is intensifying efforts to recruit foreigners, especially migrants, into its army this year.

"Checks (of these claims) were carried out in all districts of the aggressor state to determine the number of foreign men aged 18 to 60," the Ukrainian ministry said on Telegram.

It added that Russian "military recruitment centers have been given specific mobilization goals - to recruit 0,5 percent to 3,5 percent of the foreign population in each region, for the criminal war against Ukraine."

"The Russian Ministry of Defense plans to recruit at least 18.500 foreign citizens into its ranks during 2026," the statement specified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after a meeting with the head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleg Ivashchenko, announced on Telegram that "the Russian political leadership is planning new offensive operations and is preparing to mobilize additional personnel."