Uzbek migrants among foreigners recruited for Russia’s war effort

At least 66 Uzbek citizens have been killed in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a joint investigation by the BBC and Mediazona. The total number of confirmed Russian military deaths now exceeds 118,000.

Of the 66 Uzbek nationals identified, 46 were reportedly recruited from Russian penal colonies, primarily through the Wagner private military company. The remaining individuals were said to have signed military contracts either voluntarily or under pressure.

Human rights activists claim the war has become a tool of coercion for migrant workers. Some were allegedly promised the cancellation of deportation orders, fast-tracked citizenship, or the lifting of entry bans to Russia in exchange for joining the military.

In several documented cases, migrants were reportedly forced to sign military contracts under threats and intimidation.

A similar pattern has been observed among other nationalities. Of the 72 Tajik citizens confirmed dead, 43 were recruited from prisons. Meanwhile, 63 Georgians, most from the disputed territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, died in the war, with many having volunteered.

Among Nepalese nationals, 70 were reported killed and over 50 remain missing. Some were believed to have previous military experience in the British or Indian armies. In the case of North Korea, an estimated 600 soldiers sent to fight for Russia are thought to have died, though official confirmation of their identities is lacking.

Additionally, at least 288 Sri Lankan nationals joined the Russian army, with 16 deaths officially recorded.

The BBC notes that its findings are based solely on publicly available sources, such as government statements, social media posts by family members, and cemetery photographs. The real number of foreign nationals killed may be significantly higher.

It should be recalled that earlier this year, a citizen of Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region was sentenced to five years of restricted liberty for traveling to Russia for work and subsequently participating in military operations against Ukraine.