Russia just announced the first military call-up of draftees this year. During the last mandatory call-up, thousands of young men fled the country to avoid compulsory duty. Their departure did not go unnoticed. The Russian government immediately looked for other ways to recruit soldiers. They intensified efforts to attract contractors from the Russian population along with migrant workers, offering both money and other enticements.
With the additional losses this year, Russia has turned to foreign fighters to fill its trenches. Posters in Tajik, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz state, “Are you interested in obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified way by joining the armed forces as a contractor?” For some time, Russian army recruiters have been singling out military-age foreigners within the country, trying to convince them to join the Russian armed forces in Ukraine. The British Defense Ministry recently stated, “There are at least 6 million migrants from Central Asia in Russia, which the Kremlin likely sees as potential recruits,” and Russia is actively recruiting them.
But even military recruiting effort of migrant workers in Russia has not filled the void. Russia is now recruiting from around the world. The efforts not only include social media, but also active recruiters on the ground. Many countries are seemingly frustrated, with Kyrgyzstan sentencing a local man to 10 years in prison for joining Russian forces as a mercenary.
Active Recruiting in Cuba
With the Russian military doubling down on all recruiting efforts, they have set their sights on Cuba, a nation much closer to the U.S. News of financial windfalls for individuals joining the Russian military in support of the war effort are discussed everywhere in the economically stricken communist-run island. Sign on bonuses of 200,000 Rubles (the equivalent of $2,040) are being offered to the recruits – more than 100 times the average monthly state salary of 4,209 pesos ($17).
In addition to the sign-on bonuses, an enhanced and streamlined pathway for Russian citizenship is being promised to those desiring to serve. Foreigners who enlist with a year-long contract are to receive Russian citizenship via a fast-track process, along with their spouses, children, and parents.
News of Cubans ending up in the Russian military hit headlines last month. In response, the Havana government promptly stated it had uncovered a Russian-Ukrainian war trafficking ring. Cuba said they had arrested 17 people connected with human-trafficking for the war, adding Cuba is a close ally of Russia, but they are not part of the conflict in Ukraine.
The big difference is the presence of Russian recruiters on the ground in Cuba. Even with the September reports of the Cuban government outlawing such mercenary recruiting, hundreds of Cubans have accepted the offer. “Almost all of our friends have gone over there,” 24-year-old Cristian Hernandez told one news outlet. One man said he personally knew of more than 100 people who had been recruited.
One father believed his sons were signing up for contract work in Russia, only to find out upon arrival that the contract was for military service on the Ukrainian front. After signing a contract, Pedro Roberto’s son was detained by Cuban State Security authorities for “mercenary” activities. According to Mr. Roberto, his other son left for Russia this past summer and he has not heard from him since.
The U.S. State Department stated the United States is monitoring the situation closely and that the U.S. is “deeply concerned by reports alleging young Cubans have been deceived and recruited to fight for Russia.”
Another Cuban man told his wife that he was on a Russian military base south of Moscow, with over 100 other Cubans in training. He also stated that everyone knew why they were there and knew they had signed up for the war effort. The contracts are supposedly written in Spanish, with many serving for relatively large monthly salary of $2,000 a month. Many are wiring the money home to help families.
Still not Enough
Over the weekend, President Vladimir Putin signed an order for the drafting and enlistment of 130,000 more recruits. As part of “Reunification Day” celebration – the one-year anniversary of the Ukrainian oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson annexation – Putin announced the expansion of military service requirement for 18-27 year old males. The new draft is indicative of both the floundering military recruiting efforts and continued Russian losses on the Ukrainian front.
